4 day Advanced Ski Seminar

Mt Shasta, California - 14,179 ft

Hotlum Glacier

Seminar Overview

A guide favorite, the Hotlum Glacier is Mt. Shasta’s most active glacier. Packed with ice falls, seracs, and large, deep crevasses, the ski route winds among these features and allows a spectacular approach to California’s largest glacier. Our senior guides will demonstrate and teach advanced ski and split-board mountaineering techniques while touring on the massive snow and ice fields.

Advanced Ski Mountaineering instruction includes:

  • Ice axe and crampon use

  • Snow and glacier climbing technique

  • Basic rope travel

  • Roping for glacier travel

  • Crevasse Rescue practice

In this Seminar, we aim to create personal connections with Mt. Shasta and the surrounding land and build lasting connections to your new climbing community.

We have logged over 40 years of experience guiding on Mount Shasta and are the original guiding company for this special mountain. We know Shasta better than anyone and aim to provide a professional and positive experience for all climbers.

By custom arrangement only. Contact us to Book.

    • Previous ski mountaineering experience is required: extensive touring experience, combined with some previous ice axe/crampon mountaineering experience.

    • Must be in excellent physical condition and training diligently for this alpine challenge

    Climbing Mt Shasta is strenuous. For the best chances of summiting please train ahead of time. Feel free to contact us for any training recommendations. Check out our training page to get started.

  • All dates are subject to route change in the event of adverse conditions.

    • June 7-10 2024

  • $1795 per person

    INCLUDES

    • Professional instruction and mountain guiding with a guide-to-client summit-day ratio of 1:3

    • Breakfast & dinner while in the backcountry.

    • All Group camping equipment such as tents and cooking equipment.

    • Mt. Shasta summit passes

    ** Ski equipment is not included but rentals are available in the town of Mt. Shasta.

The difference is in our guides

The Shasta Mountain Guides® staff is a diverse, skilled, and fun group of individuals. Their common bond is a pure passion for being in the mountains and sharing that desire with friends, both old and new. We strongly believe in providing the highest level of service and quality of experience while climbing Mt. Shasta.

We are local professionals and are committed to your safety and enjoyment. SMG is the original guide service on Mt. Shasta and we are on the mountain daily. We specialize in Mount Shasta and the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. When you climb with us, your trip is supported by our collective experience and knowledge of the mountain.

Our combined experience includes thousands of Shasta summits and many years spent on the mountain. Together we’ve explored all its’ routes during all conditions and seasons. Join us for a trip of your lifetime!

Day 1
9:00am | Meet guides and group at the SMG Shop located at 305 Chestnut Street. Please be punctual to allow time for gear rentals, packing, and a group briefing. Your guides will do a thorough gear check and pass out group gear before packing your backpack. We recommend that you reserve your rental equipment through the Fifth Season in advance: 530-926-3606

10:00am | Drive to the Brewer Creek Trailhead (7,000’) for a group briefing and start the approach to base camp at the toe of the glacier (10,000’) Depending on conditions, the challenging approach to base camp may take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours. Distance: 3 miles, Vertical gain: 3,000’

2:00pm | At base camp your group will set up camp, snack on trail food and rest from the strenuous approach

3:00pm-4:00pm | Course Outline and review of planned itinerary

6:00pm | We will return to camp for an dinner and evening briefing.

Day 2
7:00am | Wake-up, hot breakfast.

9:00am-2:00pm | Ski tour skills day. A day to practice and review skills, acclimate, and assess snow conditions. We will travel on the lower glacier and introduce level of skills to instruct and practice. Review of basics of snow travel, ice axe and crampon use, skinning and ski cramponing, rope team travel

3:00pm | Return to camp for rest, hydration, and review

6:00pm | Dinner and evening briefing

Day 3
7:00am | Wake up, hot breakfast in camp

9:00am-2:00pm | Ski tour advanced skills day. A day to dive deeper and further refine skills and technique. We’ll get into more technical terrain and material; snow anchors, and mechanical hauling systems, with glacier travel and crevasse rescue being learning objectives

3:00pm | Return to camp for rest, hydration, and review

6:00pm | Dinner and evening briefing

Day 4

Alpine Start and Summit Climb and Ski

1:00am | Wake and start summit climb

12:00 | Approximate ski descent

5:00-6:00pm return to Mt. Shasta

* Itinerary subject to change & the summit of Mount Shasta is subject to safe weather and snow conditions

For lodging in the town of Mount Shasta before and after your trip we recommend our partners at Summit Lofts and LOGE Mt. Shasta. They offer a discount to our climbers and guests.