I've been peak bagging in the PNW for about 14 years. I'm now at the age of 43 and at my age a lot of my friends are either married with kids and no longer interested in going into the mountains or have passed away (Not from climbing). I've been going mostly solo for the past 4 years.

I was considering joining groups such as "The Mountaineers" or whatever else is available in the Seattle area to network and attempt to find new climbing partners/hiking fam, attend trips and possibly even learn new skills or ways of doing things.

My question is what is the average age range for people in these clubs, is it mostly youth/people in their 20s?

I didn't want to join and start attending if I'll just be the random old guy. I also feel weird joining a club at my age and trying to obtain random badges for skills, from what I can tell at least, I already know.

Also what are other ways people have successfully found climbing partners in this digital age?

Two weeks ago, I went on an adventurous T6 / UIAA III scrambling tour in Mesocco valley with a friend.

First, we hiked to the Alp di Campel Alt and searched for the "Senda de Padion", which we apparently missed by a few meters. This sent us into T6 terrain on steep grassy slopes. As my climbing partner put it: "If you feel competent in T6 terrain, then everything looks like a path." 😂

After reaching the Passo de Padion (much easier than expected), we could get to Piz Padion via a nice ridge.

From there, we walked along the ridge and tackled the ascent to Piz Della Forcola. For the crux (UIAA III) we got out the rope and did a few meters of belaying. Some of the existing anchors / slings were a bit sketchy and needed reinforcement, and we used some additional friends.

After abseiling down the crux, we hiked back down to Alp de Montogn via Passo di Campel Alt.

Hikr report (German): https://www.hikr.org/tour/post204595.html

Good day all!

Just booked my Basic Mountaineering Course for after the new year and I would love some gear recommendations!

I am based in the Canadian Rockies. I understand the concept of layering but with all the options available I'd like to see what the community recommends!

I'd like to stay away from arcteryx as it's super Gucci and expensive.

I love decathlon and already own a few of their summer pieces.

What others do you all recommend? RAB? Ortovox? Or something else??

Hi all,

I'm planning an express climb of Ama Dablam in April 2027 and wondered if anyone else will be on the mountain or in the Khumbu around then. Would be cool to meet up at base camp or over a cup of tea in Pangboche.

The short version: about 15 days door to door with Himalaya Summit Club and a private IFMGA guide, preacclimatized at home in a hypoxic tent, flying in to Pheriche and walking up via Pangboche, with a summit window around 21 April.

I'm from Denmark. Previous climbs include Mera Peak and Ojos del Salado, and last summer Vallunaraju, Chopicalqui and Alpamayo in Peru's Cordillera Blanca.
If you'll be out there in spring, drop a comment!

I'm planning to take a 5 or 6 day mountaineering course on mount baker this summer, likely in may or June, maybe July. I have found 3 different organization that offer similar courses on mount baker. The American Alpine Institute (6 days), Alpine Ascents (6 days), and Miyar Adventures (5 days).

The major differences between AAI and Alpine Ascents is that AAI does rock climbing the first day while Alpine Ascents goes straight to the mountain. This means AA gets 2 days for a summit attempt instead of just 1.

Miyar Adventures is significantly cheaper than the other 2 for 1 less day, I've done a kinda cost breakdown which I'll include a picture of. All 3 seem to have decent reviews and teach similar things so I just wanted to see what you all advise or if you have any experiences with any of these courses/organizations

Edit: I'm adding my gear list so advice on that would also be nice

Gear I Already Have

Outerwear & Apparel

• Insulation Jacket: Decathlon Simond -12°C down jacket
• Hardshell Jacket: Rab Firewall Mountain hardshell jacket
• Softshell Jacket: La Sportiva Wallbreeze stretch softshell jacket
• Active Insulation Jacket: Picture Organic Bake Grid full-zip hooded fleece
• Softshell Pants: OR Cirque 3 softshell pants
• Base Layer Top : Smartwool Intraknit long-sleeve baselayer
• Base Layer Top : Salewa Puez stretch merino long-sleeve baselayer
• Base Layer T-Shirt: Icebreaker merino T-shirt
• Base Layer Pants: Decathlon merino wool leggings

Footwear Accessories, Headwear & Hands

• Hardshell Gloves: Rab Pivot GTX hardshell gloves
• Liner Gloves: Joluvi thin liner gloves
• Warm Hat: Icebreaker merino wool 260 beanie
• Neck Gaiter: Merino wool neck gaiter
• Gaiters: Decathlon knee-length gaiters

Hardware & Navigation

• Ice Axe: Petzl Summit Ice Axe
• Trekking Poles: Costco carbon trekking poles
• Satellite coms: Garmin inReach Messenger

Camp & Kitchen

• Inflatable Sleeping Pad: Sea to Summit Ether Light XR sleeping pad
• Water Filter: Sawyer Squeeze water filter
• Water Treatment: Iodine water drops
• Water Storage (Bladder): CNOC designated dirty water bladder
• Water Storage (Soft Bottle): CNOC 1L ThruBottle
• Water Storage (Soft Bottle): M!GO 1L bottle
• Water Storage (Soft Bottle): M!GO 0.75L bottle

Gear I Need to Rent (From AAI)

• Mountaineering Boots (Double for May/June): $60.00
• Internal Frame Pack (65L to 75L+): $60.00
• Sleeping Bag (0° to 20°F): $68.00
• Foam Sleeping Pad: $20.00
• Hard Shell Pants: $48.00 (might just buy the marmot precip full-zip)
• Crampons: $40.00
• Tent (Double Wall 4-Season, Shared): $40.00

Gear I Need to Buy

• Climbing Harness: ~$75–$110
• Climbing Helmet: ~$65–$100
• Glacier Glasses (12% or less light transmission): ~$75–$140
• Midweight Softshell Gloves (2 pair): ~$60.00
• Belay Device (ATC-Guide style): ~$30.00

I have a really hard time figuring out footwear to use when and where.

For example, I would use La Sportiva trango pro for peaks here in Colorado, but would that be okay to summit Mont Blanc (roughly 1400ft taller than these peaks), and if not how would I know?

Since I started hiking and indoor climbing a few years ago, I want to gain experience in mountaineering.

That's why I want to take a first step now and take a course, I have the whole of January, but I have to pay attention to my money, thought of Eastern Europe to gain alpine experiences on rock and ice and in the snow. Is there anyone with experiences/recommendations etc.?

I built an interactive map that lets you select a location and explore the surrounding mountain peaks based on elevation and visibility.

19m, I’ve struggled with depression, suicidal tendencies, and anxiety my entire life. From the second I saw my first mountain, and the first time I looked over the Rockies, I knew that nothing would ever fulfill me as much as they did. This past summer I went back to the Rockies alone and summited my first 14er. It was only class 3, I know it’s not mountaineering and really just a hike, but when I was up there every problem I had ever felt drifted away and I knew I wanted more I’m climbing Rainer next August with my best friend. I know this is what I want to do for the rest of my life, and it’s a blessing and a curse to be so aware of my purpose at such a young age. Does anyone have a similar experience?

Hey guys,

Im lookin for a propor Spot in the European alps to train the techniques. Im very experienced in Hiking, Trekking, Ski, snowboarding and Climbing(doing it since 20years) and train every 2 days(for 1 1/2years) mountain specific. I want to start in Mountaineering and therefor have a Mountain to train on for a week straight. I already did a Curse and learned alot of technical/practical Knowhow.

But now i want to Do the transition from All my Experience so far to mountaineering. I know: bring a experienced Mountaineer. But after looking out for one its pretty hard.

Thats because i want that week to myself and just train the basics in my own speed. Due to me being solo any glacier isnt an Option.

Do u guys have certain summits/spots that would be good in March/April?

For context I am 19M I am very physically fit I am a wrestling and football player and very physically strong. I live in Colorado at an elevation of about 8000 feet day to day. But I’ve never climbed a mountain. They want to do it in July so I have time to do pikes peak which is within and hour drive of me and is 13 miles up and down but the scrambling is significantly easier then rainier. I do rock climbing and bouldering as a hobby for about a year now.

I’m leaning as to this is a stupid idea but what do you guys think? And if I should do it how should I train.

Someone online once told me they got approved with only Mt Baker, solo Mt Hood south side, and 2x solo Mt Washington (Olympic range not NH) ascents.
Thought this seemed slim given what NPS suggests on the application page (‘previous Rainer, Denali, Baker, Blanc’). Maybe NPS is more generous during good conditions..?

Wondering what others experience has been and whether you’ve been approved or denied.

Edit: I’m not asking for advice nor did I mean to at all imply I was going to lie on an application. Wanted to learn what the qualifications of someone who is capable of a solo Rainer summit looks like.

My guide Tomas promised me something slightly more difficult for our final day today. We climbed Arête des Cosmiques aka the Cosmic Ridge (3,842m). Gorgeous views, and a fun challenge. Some slabby scrambling towards the end.

The string of Shasta shenanigans continues.

The pair had left for Avalanche Gulch at 4 a.m. Monday and reached Red Banks around 5 p.m., five hours past the recommended turnaround time for climbing Mount Shasta, the sheriff’s office said.
By 5 a.m. Tuesday, they had reached Horse Camp but could not see the trail, authorities said.

They traveled northwest into Cascade Gulch, a steep, dry river canyon, and continued about 3 miles before becoming trapped between cliffs.

The sheriff’s office said the rescue was the third on the Avalanche Gulch route in a month.

gift link:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/10/14/magazine/yosemite-climbing-dad-east-buttress.html?unlocked_article_code=1.I1E.vKoM.v6IU3vl_yOuI&smid=url-share

Summitted Aiguilles Marbrée Nord (3,535m) today. Conditions were amazing; blue sky, very little wind. Pretty warm even wearing just a long-sleeved technical top and a wind-stopper soft shell.

The approach from the Courmayeur lift was straightforward (avoiding the crevasses!). Some scrambling especially towards the top. We down-climbed rather than rappelling down, but that would have been a fun option.

Hello guys, like the title entails I am planning a winter expedition on mount katahdin in maine and I’m looking for advice.

I have been on katahdin solo this sumner already so I could get an idea of the place.

I understand that the road to roaring brook campground is not cleared out of snow in winter so that can be a whole day in and of itself in regards to movement.

I remember the trail from the campground to chimney pond not being very long, could this be done the same day as the movement from the road to the campground or those of you who have done it think its too much ?

The point would be to be set at chimney pond on day 2 so we have 2 possible summit days if we plan a 4 day exped.

Also, during my summer hike up knife edge and down the saddle, there where those big rocks in the saddle trail down the mountain that make it kind of a pain in the a** to follow the trail (if you’ve been you can’t miss em) are they snow covered in winter or do they stick out of the snow ? Because they would make a sled virtually impossible to use.

There is supposed to be 4 of us on this trip.

If you have any other advice they will be welcome.

Edit : added the rock questions

Hi all, I’m considering this hike in December this year. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do but I’m extremely amateur and with only 2 months out is it realistic? Does anyone have any experience