North Cascades Alpine Rock Course and Climb
Learn new skills with comprehensive instruction capped off with a climb of Liberty Bell Mountain
Gym climbers and those with little to no experience can take it to the next level on this trip. This rock climbing school takes place in the idyllic town of Mazama and ventures up to Washington Pass for a taste of the Cascades best alpine rock. This course gives students a solid skill base in all aspects of alpine rock climbing and includes ascents of South Early Winter Spire and Liberty Bell Mountain. And for those with future objectives in mind, it is an excellent way to prepare for climbs like the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps and Carstensz Pyramid in Irian Jaya.
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Course Perks
While you go to climb, the opportunities for creature comforts are big on this course. You can car camp in comfort or find a cabin or hotel to stay at for the night. And if you’re so inclined, there’s ample opportunities to sample the food and beverages at one of the many fine restaurants nearby. This is what we call a “climber’s holiday!”
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Description
This is a beginner course and no experience is required. It is recommended you have some hiking experience prior to this trip.
Course Curriculum
- Selection and use of ropes, knots & harnesses
- Anchor construction, equalization, and evaluation of top-rope, lead climbing and rappel anchors
- Belaying a lead climber, lowering, and rappelling techniques
- Route selection, rope management and route finding
- Hazard assessment including a discussion of objective vs. subjective hazards
Course Objectives
- South Early Winter Spire and Liberty Bell Mountain
- Development of face, slab and crack climbing techniques
- Multi-pitch climbing techniques in an alpine environment
- A whole lot of climbing and fun!
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Video
Have a Question? Contact Us!
Price
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North Cascades Alpine Rock Course and Climb
$1,275 – 4 Days
Minimum 2 climbers
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Price Includes
- Guiding and instruction
- Group climbing equipment
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Price Does Not Include
- Food*
- All personal climbing and camping equipment
- Transportation
*Available at additional cost
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Payment Schedule
- $400 deposit at time of registration, which includes a $200 non-refundable registration fee
- Balance due 90 days prior to departure
- The balance may be paid by check, wire transfer, ACH or credit card with a 3% convenience fee
Dates
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North Cascades Alpine Rock Course and Climb 2025
- May 24, 2025 — May 27, 2025
- Jun 7, 2025 — Jun 10, 2025
- Jun 28, 2025 — Jul 1, 2025
- Jul 12, 2025 — Jul 15, 2025
- Jul 19, 2025 — Jul 22, 2025
- Aug 2, 2025 — Aug 5, 2025
- Aug 16, 2025 — Aug 19, 2025
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North Cascades Alpine Rock Course and Climb 2026
- May 23, 2026 — May 26, 2026
- Jun 6, 2026 — Jun 9, 2026
- Jun 27, 2026 — Jun 30, 2026
- Jul 11, 2026 — Jul 14, 2026
- Jul 18, 2026 — Jul 21, 2026
- Aug 1, 2026 — Aug 4, 2026
- Aug 15, 2026 — Aug 18, 2026
Custom Dates Available — Contact Us
Policies
Cancellation / Refund Policy
- MMI strongly recommends trip cancellation/interruption and evacuation insurance for all trips. Our insurance partner, Ripcord, offers comprehensive travel insurance including trip cancellation, as well as rescue/evacuation policies and can assist in answering any questions. In addition, Participant is expected to have sufficient medical insurance as prescribed by their country of origin. Participant understands that MMI does not include any type of insurance with the cost of the trip.
- If you decide to cancel your trip or change your itinerary, MMI must be notified in writing. Your trip will be cancelled from the date written notice is received. If proper written cancellation notice is not received, amounts paid and reservations made will be forfeited.
- Non-refundable fees may apply for certain trips in order to secure permits and other services. MMI must strictly adhere to cancellation policies outside MMI’s control.
- Due to the personalized service we offer on our trips, MMI reserves the right to waive any fees. We will attempt to accommodate changes and cancellations, waiving certain fees when feasible.
- Circumstances outside the control of MMI and its partners, may require amended cancellation/refund policies. Such circumstances may include, but are not limited to COVID-19, natural disasters, wildfires, terrorism and so forth.
Domestic Trips/Courses:
- Full refund, less the non-refundable registration fee, will be provided 91 days or more before the departure date
- No refunds will be provided 90 days or less before the departure date
Trip Insurance
We strongly recommend the purchase of travel cancellation insurance to protect you from the unexpected. You aren’t likely to think of it now, but people do get ill, break a bone, have a family emergency or get assigned to a last-minute business trip. If you are in remote areas, please note that emergency rescue & evacuation can be very expensive.
We also strongly urge you to consider rescue and evacuation insurance if your own policy does not provide the coverage needed. Services available may include, but are not limited to, helicopter evacuation, medical care, etc.
If you choose not to purchase insurance, you assume full responsibility for any expenses incurred in the event of a medical emergency and/or evacuation, as well as for trip cancellation, interruption, lost luggage, etc. We are not the experts and therefore ask that you please consult our travel insurance partner directly with any specific questions.
To protect against losses due to illness, accident, or other unforeseen circumstances, Mountain Madness strongly recommends the purchase of travel insurance as soon as possible after making a deposit. Mountain Madness has partnered with Redpoint Resolutions as our preferred travel insurance provider. Redpoint’s Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ is designed for adventurers.
For a quote, or to purchase travel insurance, please click this link Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ or call +1 – 415-481‑0600. Pricing varies based on age, trip cost, trip length, and level of coverage.
Critical benefits of Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance include:
- A completely integrated program with a single point of contact for emergency services, travel assistance, and insurance claims
- Evacuation and rescue services from your point of injury or illness to your hospital of choice
- Comprehensive travel insurance for trip cancellation/interruption, primary medical expense coverage, baggage loss or delay, emergency accident and emergency sickness medical expense, emergency dental, accidental death and dismemberment, and more
- Optional security evacuation coverage in case of an unplanned natural disaster or other security events
- Waiver for pre-existing conditions (must be purchased within 14 days of tour deposit)
- Optional “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage (must be purchased within 14 days of tour deposit)
Itinerary
Flight Information
For scheduled courses and climbs, you should fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac). You are responsible for your transportation to downtown Seattle. You will meet as a group with your guide(s) early morning on Day 1 for an orientation meeting and equipment check.
North Cascades Alpine Rock Course and Climb Day by Day
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Day 1
Meet Mountain Madness Guides at 8.00 am at the Mazama Store in Mazama WA. After an orientation and equipment check, you’ll begin the day with a review of essential knot tying skills and proper use of equipment. You will also review proper belay commands and techniques that will prepare you for actual climbing. Once these basics are covered, you begin climbing! Communication signals and various friction, face, and crack climbing techniques will be covered. Top rope set-up, anchors, belaying a lead climber, cleaning protection, rappelling, and rope management will round out the day’s activities. In the evening we camp at a nearby campground.
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Day 2
You’ll get an early start and review any skills you feel you need to work on from Day 1, and then you’ll spend the rest of the day putting your skills to work climbing, including doing a multi-pitch climb which will give you a taste of what is to come. In the evening we’ll drive to Washington Pass and set up camp there.
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Day 3
After an early rise, we drive to the Blue Lake trailhead and begin the 2 mile approach up to the base of the Early Winter Spires. Our first route in this impressive complex of massive spires and granite faces is up the South Arête of the South Spire. This is a great introductory multi-pitch alpine rock climb with a spectacular summit! This 600-foot / 183-meter climb follows a blocky arête where climbers stem, chimney, friction, and hand jam their way to the summit. After our descent to the trailhead we head back to our campground, eat, and prepare for the next day’s climb.
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Day 4
We head back up to Washington Pass for some more classic ‘alpine cragging’! This day’s objective will be Cutthroat Peak, an 8,050-foot / 2454-meter granite peak, or the Beckey Route on Liberty Bell Mountain, a 7,720-foot / 2353-meter spire which captivates the imagination of every climber who looks up at its granite faces. From the summit of either peak we can look across to the summits of the Early Winter Spires, the Wine Spires, Kangaroo Ridge, and distant snow-covered volcanoes. After this final descent, we’ll hike back to the trailhead and drive to Seattle, likely arriving late in the evening.
Note on Itinerary: Although we do our very best to follow the schedule listed, the very nature of climbing in an alpine environment requires flexibility. This itinerary is subject to change due to inclement weather, unsafe route conditions, and other reasons beyond our control.
Equipment for North Cascades Alpine Rock Course and Climb
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Carrying Gear
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Medium duffel bag
To store your non-mountain gear; this will be stored at the hotel or vans, to be used after the climb
Examples:
Patagonia Black Hole
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Backpack (25-35L)
day pack size (25-35L)
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Climbing Gear
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Rock climbing harness
comfortable and padded
Examples:
Petzl Adjama, Black Diamond Momentum
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Climbing helmet
Lightweight
Examples:
Black Diamond Half Dome, Petzl Elios
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Locking carabiners (2)
Two large, pear-shaped carabiners are best
Examples:
Black Diamond Rock Lock, Petzl William, Petzl Attache
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Non-locking carabiners (2)
2 non-locking carabiners. wired straight-gates are recommended
Examples:
Black Diamond HotWire
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Belay device (plaquette)
Tube style
Examples:
Black Diamond ATC Guide, Petzl Reverso
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30’ of perlon accessory cord (7mm)
30 feet of 6mm cord
Examples:
Sterling
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Double length nylon runner (48" or 120cm)
be sure to get nylon not dyneema (18mm width)
Examples:
Black Diamond Nylon Slings
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Chalk bag (optional)
optional but nice for rock climbs when the temps are warm
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Mountaineering ice axe (early season - contact for details)
under 5’7” use 60cm, 5’7”-6’2” use 60 or 65cm, over 6’2” use 70cm
Examples:
Black Diamond Raven, Petzl Glacier
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Crampons w/ anti-balling plate (early season - contact for details)
Steel 12-pont. Must be fit to climbing boots prior to trip, new-matic/hybrid type
Examples:
Black Diamond Sabretooth, Petzl Vasak
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Head and Face
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Fleece or wool hat
It must cover the ears
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Sunglasses
Essential eye protection whether in the tropics or by the water. Look for 100% UVA/UVB protection. Consider bringing a spare pair
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Shade hat or baseball cap
A visor hat with a good brim is essential for protection from the sun
Examples:
Mountain Madness trucker hat
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Hands
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Light weight work gloves
lightweight gloves with leather palm for rope work
Examples:
Black Diamond Transition Glove
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Feet
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Liner socks (optional)
1-pair lightweight and thin
Examples:
polypropylene or wool
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Syntheric or wool socks
check boot fir to make sure they work together
Examples:
Smartwool ,Patagonia
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Light hiking boots or trail shoes
For acclimatization hikes
Examples:
Salomon X-Ultra 3 Mid, Merrell Moab, La Sportiva Boulder Ex
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Insulated mountaineering boots (NW)
waterproof, insulated, crampon compatible, full shank boots. Many of these boots have Women specific equivalents (May –late June and Ice Climbs)
Examples:
Scarpa Mt Blanc, Scarpa Phantom Tech, La Sportiva Nepal Evo GTX, Salewa Vulture Vertical GTX
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Lightweight mountaineering boots (NW)
waterproof and crampon compatible (HIGHLY recommended from July -October)
Examples:
Scarpa Charmoz, La Sportiva Trango Tower, Salewa Raven, Salewa Crow
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Rock Shoes
comfortable enough for all-day use
Examples:
La Sportiva Mythos, Scarpa Helix
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Upper Body
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Synthetic t-shirts
Two synthetic or merino wool t-shirts. No cotton!
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Sports bras
Two, synthetic, no cotton!
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Long-sleeved Base Layer
Two lightweight to mediumweight, pull-over is best
Examples:
Patagonia Capilene
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Light weight synthetic jacket
light weight synthetic puffy or fleece
Examples:
Patagonia Nano Puff jacket
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Rain jacket
basic rain jacket with a hood in case of any inclement weather
Examples:
Marmot pricip, or Gore-Tex type jacket
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Sun hoody
This piece with a high SPF rating and lightweight fabric offers protection from high altitude sun
Examples:
Outdoor Research
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Lower Body
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Softshell pants
Softshell pants are water resistant, yet highly breathable and durable. Great for colder conditions over a pair of long underwear or tights higher on the mountain or summit day
Examples:
Outdoor Research Voodoo, Mountain Hardwear Touren, Patagonia Guide
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Nylon shorts (optional)
Quick-drying type for July-Sept trips
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Miscellaneous
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Personal first aid kit (NW)
moleskin/blister kit, Band-aids, athletic tape, ibuprofen, personal medications, ect
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Lip balm
Must have SPF rating of 20 or more. Bring two just in case!
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Sunscreen
Bring plenty of sun block with SPF of 40 or more. It's easy to underestimate the amount necessary for your trip!
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Headlamp
Bring extra batteries!
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Water bottles
two 1 liter wide-mouth water bottles
Examples:
Nalgene
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Hydration bladder (optional)
hydration bladder or water bag with drinking tube (must also have 1 Nalgene Bottle or equivalent)
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Snacks (general)
Bring your favorite snacks and power/energy bars or if there is something else you particularly like to eat while hiking and climbing
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Book Course
North Cascades Alpine Rock Course and Climb
$1,275
4 Days
Minimum 2 climbers
Client to guide ratio
4:1, 2:1 for alpine routes
Difficulty
Advanced Beginner
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