Alpine Ice Practice Clinic - Mount Baker Lower Coleman Seracs and Glacier

Very early in the morning on Saturday at the Heliotrope Ridge trailhead. You may want to drive up there on Friday evening and car camp. Details to be discussed via email.

This optional climbing clinic provides an opportunity for students in the Tacoma Intermediate Alpine/Glacier Module to practice alpine ice climbing techniques in a relatively low-risk environment.

The techniques practiced will be roughly the same as to those in ordinary Alpine Ice field trips, but this  clinic does not grant course credits, and does not substitute for a regular field trip. We only offer an opportunity to improve your skills and confidence on ice.

This clinic focuses on techniques used on moderate-angle alpine ice in the cascades. It does not prepare you for climbing vertical water ice or mixed terrain. We do not anticipate having time for toproping practice.

Depending on the skill level and how everyone feels, we may practice:

- climbing technique (movement in crampons on ice, stance, swings, etc.),

- screw placements, V-threads, building multi-point anchors and setting up belays,

- mock leads, leads, swinging leads on ice (depending on your comfort level).

As an added bonus, you will likely get the chance to practice stream crossings.