7-day Ptarmigan Traverse in the North Cascades, Washington State
Join a certified mountain guide for a fun, scenic and informative 7-day mountaineering experience along the Ptarmigan Traverse. Running from Cascade Pass to Dome Peak, enjoy incredible views and amazing climbs every day.
Private
Cascade Range
7 Days
Jul, Aug
High
Beginner
Highlights
- Enjoy the sublime scenery of the Northern Cascade Range.
- Summit at least three different mountains over the course of the week.
- Learn plenty of necessary mountaineering and backcountry camping skills.
Description
Named after the route taken by the Ptarmigan Climbing Club in 1938, the Ptarmigan Traverse takes us through some of the most pristine and remote scenery in the Cascades.
It is also the perfect traverse for advanced-beginner mountaineers, as there are various types of climbing to do, but none of it is too technically challenging. The entirety of the traverse is characterized by the rugged terrain and stark beauty of this untamed Washington wilderness.
Over the course of one incredible week, we will climb glaciers in a rope team, ascend through ice and snow with crampons and ice axes, assess various hazards and learn about leave no trace camping.
Expect to see plenty of incredible natural beauty as we go too. We will be trekking past turquoise-blue mountain lakes, ancient old-growth forests, imposing mountains and stunning glaciers.
Along with traversing several glaciers and crossing a number of mountain passes, we will summit Le Conte, Sentinel and Dome Peak over the course of the week. From the summit of each, we will enjoy great views out over some of the most iconic peaks in the Northern Cascade Range.
For a complete itinerary of the trip, see below.
So what are you waiting for? Book now for this unforgettable 7-day mountaineering experience along the Ptarmigan Traverse in wonderful Washington State!
If you like the look of this trip then we think you will also enjoy our 2-day ascent of Ruth Mountain, which is also perfect for beginner mountaineers!
Join a group
June 2025
| Date | Price per person | |
|---|---|---|
29 Jun 05 Jul | USD 3000 USD 3000 each |
August 2025
| Date | Price per person | |
|---|---|---|
03 Aug 09 Aug | USD 3000 USD 3000 each |
June 2026
| Date | Price per person | |
|---|---|---|
28 Jun 04 Jul | USD 3000 USD 3000 each |
August 2026
| Date | Price per person | |
|---|---|---|
02 Aug 08 Aug | USD 3000 USD 3000 each |
Would you like to travel on a different date?
Price includes
- Guiding fee
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Transport during the trip
Price details
- Included:
- Guide services
- Ground transportation; including all shuttles during the trip
- All meals while on the mountain
- Tents
- Group climbing equipment
- Not included:
- Airfare
- Transportation within Seattle
- Hotel accommodations
- Restaurant meals
- All personal equipment
- Travel insurance with trip cancellation, medical and evacuation policy
- Guide gratuities
Meeting point
Itinerary
Day 1: Day 1
Park at Cascade Pass and start hiking toward Cascade Pass. We will travel to Cascade Pass at 5400 feet and continue up and over Cache Col and camp at Kool Aid Lake.
Day 2: Day 2
Begin the day climbing up the Red Ledges and dropping down on the Middle Cascade Glacier. Climb up the glacier to the Spider-Formidable Col en route to Yang Yang Lakes for the evening.
Day 3: Day 3
Tour up the Le Conte Glacier and climb Le Conte and Sentinel. After summiting, hike down Lizard Pass and camp at White Rocks Lake.
Day 4: Day 4
Climb up the Dana Glacier and descend south onto Itswoot Ridge and camp with view of Glacier Peak.
Day 5: Day 5
Today is reserved to climb Dome Peak, return to camp and enjoy the views.
Day 6: Day 6
Hike out via Bachelor and Downey creeks to the Suiattle River Road and savor our accomplishments.
Day 7: Day 7
Reserved for bad weather or more summit opportunities.
Equipment you will need to bring
Crampons
Ice axe
Harness
Water bottle
Backpack
Helmet
Sunglasses
Belay device
Rope
About the guide
Mountain
Mountain Guide
For over 35 years, Mountain Madness has been bringing profound outdoor experiences to trekkers and mountaineers across the globe. We have built a strong foundation of skills and expertise, fueling our passion to impart our wisdom onto other like-minded explorers. Cultivating an enthusiasm for the
outdoors while helping you enjoy the journey and achieve your goals is a dream come true.
Our mission is to provide the best experience possible and to instill a passion for adventure. We value cultural exchange, take pride in facing physical and mental challenges head on, and strive to development wilderness skills that encourage self-discovery without compromising our environment.
Climbing, trekking, and skiing worldwide allows Mountain Madness to guide internationally. Our success and determination have given us worldwide acclaim and reignited our hunger – from Rainier and Baker to Kilimanjaro and Everest, no adventure is too big or too small.
Our guides have extensive training and are AMGA and/or IFMGA-certified guides. We enjoy assisting in all aspects of your trip, from the first conversation to the last goodbye. The collection of activities are endless, with alpinists, trekkers, explorers, mountaineers, and ski tourers on our team. To assist first time explorers and grizzled veterans in finding hidden, everyday wonder is our pleasure.
Languages
English
What people are saying about Explore-Share
Man
Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!
Maxine
Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.
Valeriya
You’re simply the best!!! :))) Explore-Share made everything easy and stress-free. Will definitely use again.
Joshua
We had Léo as a guide for our day climb in Fonty. We were blessed with a knowledgeable, warm, and instructive guide. Communication with Léo and Ivan was smooth and swift. Explore-Share was excellent in arranging everything for our day climb. The communication was quick, and the platform was easy to use, making our adventure stress-free.
Cami
Patrick was a great guide. He took us on an intermediate Via Ferrata at Passo Sella. Renato was quick to respond with any outreach on the Explore-Share platform. The booking process was straightforward, and once Patrick was confirmed, all went well. It was a wonderful experience, and I’d highly recommend the platform.
4.8
Read all our verified reviews
For booking assistance
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