North Cascades Seminar

RMI's North Cascades Seminar runs as an 8-day Level 4 program across two iconic peaks. Days 1–4 are on Mount Baker via either the technical North Ridge (80-degree ice) or the moderate Coleman-Deming Glacier; Days 5–8 tackle Mount Shuksan's Fisher Chimneys and Southeast Ridge summit pyramid. The curriculum covers multi-pitch rock and ice, glacier navigation, anchor systems, rappelling, and mixed terrain — a 2:1 guide ratio and AMGA-certified instructors. Required prerequisite: prior glacier-travel and steep-snow experience.

Eight days of alpine training across two mountains is a lot of gear-cycling — rent the heavy items (sleeping bag, double boots if conditions warrant, expedition parka) and bring the personal kit you've already broken in. Our Ashford shop fits you in person and ships gear home if a detour doesn't fit the trip.

This collection mirrors RMI's official equipment list for the North Cascades Seminar. The kit is broader than a single-route climb — minimum five upper-body layers, technical hardware for multi-pitch terrain, and the volume to live out of a pack for 8 days while moving between Baker and Shuksan camps. Every piece has been vetted to withstand temperature extremes and pack compression across the full seminar.