North America Alpine Mountaineering School Overview

Mountain Madness’ Northwest courses take place in the North Cascades and Olympic National Parks and the Alpine Lakes, Glacier Peak, and Mount Baker Wilderness areas. Visitors will find ancient forests, cascading waterfalls, hundreds of glaciers, pristine alpine lakes and meadows, and wildlife that include wolves, bears, marmots, mountain goats, and a variety of birds. Because of its rugged approaches, exceptional alpine terrain, and unrivaled scenery, it is the premiere training ground for climbers in North America.

Each program offers a thorough selection of courses from the basics to the most advanced skills needed to climb and ski the great peaks of the world. We are proud to have carried on our founder, Scott Fischer’s dream of bringing the beauty, excitement, and transforming power of adventure to those who journey with us. From Mount Baker to Mount Everest, we invite you to come share the passion of adventure!

The objectives of our school are threefold;

• To give participants the experience needed to join progressively more challenging guided trips, from our Intro to Mountaineering course all the way to Mount Everest, and everything in between!

• To help beginners to develop the skills and judgment that ultimately allow participants to become independent climbers, reliant on themselves and not the services of a guide.

• To develop in aspiring guides the chance to learn from professionals while on their way to becoming leaders for mountaineering clubs, college climbing clubs, or up and coming guides for Mountain Madness!

Why Mountain Madness’ Mountaineering School?

Mountain Madness has the most highly trained staff in the Northwest. All of our North American guides hold a Wilderness First Responder, many have been trained or certified by the American Mountain Guides Association, and all continue to pursue their own climbing goals through expeditions and challenging ascents. We carefully design every curriculum, hand-select our course locations, and maintain small group sizes so that each client gets individual attention and training. Rock, ice or snow – we offer all the courses you need to become the complete alpinist.

Mountain Madness is accredited by the American Mountain Guides Association, which lets you know that our service meets an internationally recognized standard of reliability and professionalism both in the field and in our office. For more information about this see Why Go With Mountain Madness.

Mountain Madness frees you from the logistical planning and allows you to focus on the experience.

Our trips include:

• Tents, group cooking and climbing equipment

• Transportation from Seattle to the mountain and back

• Experienced office staff to help you prepare for your trip

• A full rental program with ice axe, harness, boots, crampons, helmets, and ski poles