Mount Shuksan Climbing

Mount Shuksan offers numerous alpine climbing routes that combine spectacular glaciers and moderate rock climbing. The three classic routes on Mount Shuksan are the Sulphide Glacier, Fisher Chimneys, and the North Face.

• Sulphide Glacier Route:
  • Type: Introductory alpine climb.
  • Features: Moderate glacier travel, final summit pyramid with steep snow and moderate rock climbing.
  • Ideal For: Beginning and Intermediate alpine climbers looking for a climb that is technically more challenging than 
  • Views: Stunning vistas of Mount Baker, Canadian peaks, and Mount Rainier.
  • Experience: Perfect for a first exposure to the North Cascades' climbing potential.
  • Duration: Typically three days, but experienced parties that don’t require extra training can do it in two. 
• Fisher Chimneys and SE Ridge Route:
  • Type: Moderately technical mixed alpine climb.
  • Features: Moderate rock climbing, moderately steep snow and ice sections, complex glacier travel. 
  • Overnight: Climbers carry overnight packs through the Fisher Chimneys, making it excellent training for more advanced climbs.
  • High Camp: Set on a rock perch overlooking the White Salmon Glacier.
  • Duration: Typically three days
• North Face Route:
  • Type: Technical and demanding alpine climb.
  • Features: Steep snow and ice pitches (up to 60-70 degrees), sections of mixed climbing with rock, snow, and ice, highly exposed terrain.
  • Experience: Recommended for experienced alpinists comfortable with sustained steep snow and moderate ice climbing.
  • Scenery: Dramatic views of the North Cascades, adding to the intensity and beauty of the climb.
  • Challenge: One of the more formidable routes on Mount Shuksan, culminating in the summit pyramid.
  • Duration: Typically three days, but some people add an additional day if climbing via the Fisher Chimneys