Join Trillium Alpine Guides for a 5-Day Alpine Rock Climbing Course in the Twin Sisters Range near Mt. Baker. This intermediate-level program is designed for rock climbers and mountaineers who want to refine their technical systems, improve efficiency on long routes, and gain the skills to climb independently in alpine terrain.
Sharpen your skills and take your alpine climbing to the next level in one of the most beautiful and remote corners of the North Cascades.
The 5-Day Alpine Rock Climbing Course is to bridge the gap between traditional rock climbing and mountaineering to full alpine objectives.
Over five immersive days, you will gain technical proficiency, efficiency, and confidence in real alpine terrain. With the rugged Twin Sisters as our classroom, this course blends climbing movement, technical systems, and decision making to help you move safely and efficiently through complex mountain environments.
By the end of the course, you will walk away with the skills to execute your own alpine rock objectives or climb more remote and demanding objectives with Trillium Alpine Guides, like the West Ridge of Forbidden Peak.
We begin with an early meet up, gear check, and approach hike into the Twin Sisters Range. Once our basecamp is established, we’ll dive into trip planning and route selection for the coming days.
Our first climbing day begins with an ascent of the Green Creek Arete, a classic ridge route that offers excellent opportunities to refine efficient alpine rock movement and rope systems in a real objective setting.
Instruction focuses on efficient transitions, terrain reading, and decision making in complex alpine rock environments.
We climb the North Ridge of Cinderella, one of the most striking routes in the Twin Sisters Range. The day emphasizes glacier travel, route finding, and alpine efficiency.
We will bivy at the saddle between Cinderella and Little Sister, an incredible alpine perch with sweeping views of Mt. Baker and the surrounding peaks.
We’ll pack up our bivy and climb the East Ridge of Little Sister, applying the full range of alpine rock skills developed throughout the previous days.
After summiting, we’ll return to our basecamp and debrief the climb.
We’ll pack up our camp and head back to the trailhead.
Back at the trailhead, we close out the course with a comprehensive review, personalized feedback, and discussion of next steps for your alpine climbing development.
Alpine rock movement and transitions
Building and evaluating alpine anchors
Efficient rope and belay station management
Short pitching and glacier travel
Route finding and terrain assessment
Managing loose rock and objective hazards
Rappelling and retreat systems
Alpine bivy and self care strategies
This course is designed for climbers with previous outdoor climbing experience who are comfortable following or leading traditional rock routes at a minimum of 5.6 and have experience on multi pitch climbs.
Participants should have good physical fitness and be prepared for long days of climbing and travel in remote alpine terrain.
It is an ideal choice for those looking to expand their skill set beyond cragging and learn how to move efficiently on technical alpine rock routes. Graduates of this course will be well prepared for independent objectives and guided climbs throughout the North Cascades and beyond.
Join Trillium Alpine Guides for a 5-Day Alpine Rock Climbing Course in the Twin Sisters Range near Mt. Baker. This intermediate-level program is designed for rock climbers and mountaineers who want to refine their technical systems, improve efficiency on long routes, and gain the skills to climb independently in alpine terrain.
Sharpen your skills and take your alpine climbing to the next level in one of the most beautiful and remote corners of the North Cascades.
The 5-Day Alpine Rock Climbing Course is to bridge the gap between traditional rock climbing and mountaineering to full alpine objectives.
Over five immersive days, you will gain technical proficiency, efficiency, and confidence in real alpine terrain. With the rugged Twin Sisters as our classroom, this course blends climbing movement, technical systems, and decision making to help you move safely and efficiently through complex mountain environments.
By the end of the course, you will walk away with the skills to execute your own alpine rock objectives or climb more remote and demanding objectives with Trillium Alpine Guides, like the West Ridge of Forbidden Peak.
We begin with an early meet up, gear check, and approach hike into the Twin Sisters Range. Once our basecamp is established, we’ll dive into trip planning and route selection for the coming days.
Our first climbing day begins with an ascent of the Green Creek Arete, a classic ridge route that offers excellent opportunities to refine efficient alpine rock movement and rope systems in a real objective setting.
Instruction focuses on efficient transitions, terrain reading, and decision making in complex alpine rock environments.
We climb the North Ridge of Cinderella, one of the most striking routes in the Twin Sisters Range. The day emphasizes glacier travel, route finding, and alpine efficiency.
We will bivy at the saddle between Cinderella and Little Sister, an incredible alpine perch with sweeping views of Mt. Baker and the surrounding peaks.
We’ll pack up our bivy and climb the East Ridge of Little Sister, applying the full range of alpine rock skills developed throughout the previous days.
After summiting, we’ll return to our basecamp and debrief the climb.
We’ll pack up our camp and head back to the trailhead.
Back at the trailhead, we close out the course with a comprehensive review, personalized feedback, and discussion of next steps for your alpine climbing development.
Alpine rock movement and transitions
Building and evaluating alpine anchors
Efficient rope and belay station management
Short pitching and glacier travel
Route finding and terrain assessment
Managing loose rock and objective hazards
Rappelling and retreat systems
Alpine bivy and self care strategies
This course is designed for climbers with previous outdoor climbing experience who are comfortable following or leading traditional rock routes at a minimum of 5.6 and have experience on multi pitch climbs.
Participants should have good physical fitness and be prepared for long days of climbing and travel in remote alpine terrain.
It is an ideal choice for those looking to expand their skill set beyond cragging and learn how to move efficiently on technical alpine rock routes. Graduates of this course will be well prepared for independent objectives and guided climbs throughout the North Cascades and beyond.
