Take on the thrilling challenge of ski mountaineering in New Hampshire's Presidential Range. Learn critical avalanche and ice axe skills while skiing legendary backcountry routes.
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Difficulty
expert
Duration
6–8 hours
Fitness Level
Participants should have excellent cardiovascular fitness and stamina due to sustained uphill travel and high-altitude exertion.
Wildlife
History
Mount Washington is famed for its rapid and extreme weather changes, with one of the world’s highest recorded wind speeds.
Conservation
The area is carefully managed to protect fragile alpine vegetation and reduce human impact on sensitive snowfields.
International Mountain Climbing School
Take on the thrilling challenge of ski mountaineering in New Hampshire's Presidential Range. Learn critical avalanche and ice axe skills while skiing legendary backcountry routes.
International Mountain Climbing School operates from Millinocket, Maine, offering guided climbing and mountaineering instruction across the White Mountains and Mount Washington Valley.
The school provides a range of private and semi‑private programs, family half‑day and full‑day outings, technical clinics, and multi‑day rock climbing courses designed for climbers at varying skill levels. Guided options include Private Guided Rock Climbing (half‑day and full‑day formats) on Cathedral and Whitehorse Ledge granite, family‑focused climbs, and a Three Day Basic Rock Climbing course that teaches traditional multi‑pitch techniques.
Technical clinics emphasize hands‑on skill development: How to Build Top Rope Anchors and Anchor Building and Protection Placement teach anchor systems, gear application, and belay techniques. Advanced courses such as the Self Rescue Course and Alpine Snow and Ice Skills build on foundational knowledge to prepare participants for complex situations and alpine terrain. The Mt. Washington Ascent provides an intensive 8‑hour winter mountaineering experience focused on navigation, crampon use, and self‑arrest.
Instruction is delivered in small groups or private formats and is tailored to participant goals, with attention to safety, communication, and practical skill progression. Participants are advised to bring appropriate clothing, water, and lunch when indicated. Featured on The Adventure Collective, International Mountain Climbing School offers a practical, skills‑based lineup of climbing and mountaineering experiences—from beginner clinics to intermediate and advanced alpine training.
Location
Millinocket, ME
Base for White Mountains programs
Trips Offered
11 trips
Guided climbs, clinics, and courses
Private Options
Private & Semi‑Private
Multiple trips offer private formats
Typical Duration
Half‑day to 3 days
Half‑day, full‑day, multi‑day formats
Reserve a private, semi‑private, family, or multi‑day experience to develop climbing and alpine skills in the White Mountains.
Carry Avalanche Safety Gear
Always have a beacon, probe, and shovel when skiing in Mount Washington’s backcountry terrain.
Check Weather Updates Often
Weather changes rapidly on Mount Washington; monitor forecasts and adjust plans accordingly.
Dress in Moisture-Wicking Layers
Wear breathable and insulating layers to manage sweat and stay warm in fluctuating conditions.
Practice Ice Axe Self-Arrest
Make sure you’re comfortable using your ice axe to arrest a fall on steep snow slopes.
Avalanche Beacon
Critical for locating buried victims in case of an avalanche.
winter
Ice Axe
Necessary for self-arrest and stability on icy slopes.
winter
Ski Mountaineering Skins
Allow uphill travel by providing traction on snow.
winter
Layered Insulated Clothing
Keeps you warm and dry through variable mountain conditions.
winter