CLIMB 2025 - 2026
Rock climbing in Italy
I’ve found some of the best shoulder season climbing I can imagine in Sardegna (Sardinia) Italy. Warming spring time temperatures without blazing heat, a culture that visibly dates back to the Bronze Age (there are over 7000+ stone towers and walls across the island), and rock everywhere of every description. There is single pitch, multi pitch, sport, and even alpine rock routes. There’s so much climbing to be had that there are two separate go-to guidebooks, one for single pitch sport climbing and another for the multi-pitch and alpine rock.
On the Italian Riviera there’s Finale Liguria. The local guidebook here comes in two editions as well, each an inch thick. We get to stay inside the medieval city walls of Finale Borgo and travel outside to some amazing rocks.
Just across the border in France is the amazing sea-side national park of Calanques, where the rock walls run into the ocean. Single and multi-pitch adventures start from the waters edge.
There is - quite literally - at least one rock climbing guidebook for each of Italy’s 26 regions, and I’m starting to explore them all. If you want to add a climbing week to your holiday in Italy, I can likely create an itinerary for wherever you find yourself.
NEW FOR 2025! Available for dates in April and September.
Rock Climbing in Washington
In the Pacific Northwest, June is that in-between time: we still get some rain, we start to get summer temperatures, there’s still a lot of snow in the high mountains, and we all feel like T-Rex’s: strong legs from a winter of skiing but weak arms from no climbing. For me, I try to start addressing this from April to June, so I can be in fighting trim for Rocktember and Rocktober.
Then summer comes - the best kept “secret” in the Pacific Northwest. The rain shrinks away and we bask in the sun for three full months or more, it seems, and complain that it’s getting hot whenever the temperature reaches 85°F.
It’s rock climbing weather, and thanks to the mountains that split Washington from north to south, there are dozens of options - here is my favorites list:
Goat Wall, Mazama. Multi-pitch rock.
Mt Erie, Anacortes. Single and a few multi-pitch, right by the ocean. One of my personal favorites to start warming up again.
Darrington Rock. The unsung gem of the PNW in my opinion, featuring multi pitch granite climbing out of the forests.
Icicle Creek, Leavenworth. The undisputed climbing capital of Washington, “Little Bavaria” is also a fantastic hiking, trail running, and mountain biking destination on the edge of the world-famous Enchantments and Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
Smith Rock, Oregon. Sport climbing in North America started here - quite literally. What’s less known is a number of awesome multi-pitch routes too. I’ve been visiting Smith Rock for over 20 years - let me show you why.
Of course there’s more - Index, Snoqualmie Valley, even my local crags on the Olympic Peninsula. Give me a shout, let’s discuss where you are and your ambitions, and I can likely craft an itinerary that fits you best.
Available for dates in June, July and August.
Matterhorn & Dolomiti
NEW FOR 2025! Join me for a week of alpine mountain adventures in the Swiss Alps or the Italian Dolomiti in July. A week of climbing the peaks surrounding Zermatt warms us up for an ascent of the classic Hornli Ridge on the Matterhorn. Read about my Matterhorn stories here: LINK.
Or join me for technical multi pitch rock climbing in Sud Tirol and the Dolomiti mountains of Italy. We can finish the week with a summit in the Tre Cime group to the north or the South Face of the Marmolada in the south.
NEW FOR 2025! Dates available:
Matterhorn: 1 - 6 September and 8 - 13 September.
Dolomiti: All September!
2026 Dates!
Matterhorn: 6 - 11, 13 - 18, 20 - 25, and 27 July to 1 August. AND 31 August - 5 September, 7 - 12 September.
Dolomiti: July and September dates available.
Alpine Treks in the Cascades & the Alps
Alpine Trekking is my own name for multi-day hiking tours across alpine mountain ranges that still require glacier and climbing skills to cross passes and even collect a few summits along the way. All of these tours require a rope, harness, and crampons - and some require helmets and ice axes as well. Here’s my short list of examples:
The Bailey High Route, Olympics. This route travels cross country from the Elwha or Solduck Rivers to the Sunhado / Mt Olympus massif. Exits to the west, east, or the south are possible and can include summits or not. This tour starts at 5 days - but the Grand Bailey Traverse runs the full length of the park over 10 days.
Eldorado - Sahale High Route, North Cascades. Connecting the two most popular climber destinations in the North Cascades, this traverse can take anywhere from 3 to 6 days, depending on your ambitions.
The Inspiration High Route, North Cascades. Named after the largest glacier crossed on this tour from Eldorado to Ross Lake, this route can take as little as 3 days or up to 5 days with summits added.
The Haute Route, French-Swiss Alps. The classic ski tour also has a summer counterpart. This tour can take between 6 and 12 days depending on the route and your ambitions. Fully catered huts let’s us accomplish this tour with 25L - 35L packs!
Cascade alpine treks are available for dates in July and August.
Alps alpine treks are available for dates in July and September.
Cascade Alpine & Mountaineering
With the largest and largest number of glaciers in the continental United States, the Cascade Mountain of Washington is the indisputable home of mountaineering in the United States. Expeditions for Everest, Denali and Antarctica train here.
There is also world class alpine climbing - requiring a full tool kit of techniques and covers a huge breadth of terrain. This combination of towering rock mountains, steep snow slopes and glaciers makes the Cascades special. This combination is why the AMGA run their Advanced Alpine Guide Course and Alpine Guide Exam here.
So here is my tick list of favorite alpine routes to show you in the mountains I’ve called home since 2000:
North Face and North Ridge of Shuksan. 3 days, carry-over
North Ridge of Kulshan / Mt Baker. 2 days, carry-over.
The Pickets. I recommend taking at least 4 days, because the approach in takes a full day in and 3/4 day out.
NE Ridge of Mt Triumph. 3 days.
West Ridge of Eldorado. 3 days, carry over.
Torment-Forbidden Traverse. 3-4 days, carry over.
Frostbite Ridge of Glacier Peak. 5 days.
Snoqualmie Pass Alpine. The Tooth, Chair Peak, Kaleetan Peak, and Mt Thomson have almost a dozen great alpine rock summer routes. Awesome for day trips. There’s also a fantastic three-day carry-over link-up of Chair Peak, Kaleetan Peak, and the Bryant-Tooth Traverse.
Blue Glacier, Sunhado / Mt Olympus. 5 days.
There is so much more. Come to me with your ideas and let’s design a custom built mountain adventure for you.
Available for dates in June, July and August.