As an older (almost 70) and purely recreational backcountry skier, I've always been a little skeptical of Avi courses. I know there is substantial research evidence around avalanche forecasting tools and techniques, but I'd also felt the "weekend warrior" skier would never be able to learn enough - outside years of direct experience - to really be safer. But now, the day after participating in a multi-day training course with Olivia of NMS, I can confidently say my mind has been changed. In no way do I now consider myself an expert, but I do feel far more confident in my ability to assess risk. And even more, far more able to make better decisions - and that means far more enjoyable back country skiing experiences. I found the NMS Avi course to be very well designed - both the preparatory online component and the two day in-the-field experience. Our group (seven students) was quite varied (age, back country experience, gear type) and yet under Olivia's guidance, we quickly gelled into a cohesive, friendly, supportive team. Each of us had some challenges such as broken or faulty gear, but we all pulled together to help each other out. Perhaps the most profound learning experience was the two avalanche rescue scenarios Olivia set for us, where we simulated a major avalanche and worked to rescue buried skiers. Our team did "so-so" in the first one, but with the second, we did a pretty darn good job of applying the best practices we'd learned. That felt great! So, bottom line, for me, this course is clearly very well worth the price of admission. Oh, yeah. We also had a terrific corn snow ski after skinning up Lichtenberg... :-) read more

Just returned from an amazing 5 day 4 night trip up to Glacier Peak with Olivia Race as our guide. From start to finish Olivia with NW Mountain School was the absolute best. She was incredibly knowledgeable, well organized, fun and supportive. We were looking for a guide to climb Glacier Peak one of the best kept secrets of Washington. The approach is quite long (14 plus miles) which seems to be a deterrent for folks. Don't let it be as the approach takes you through some absolutely beautiful country and Glacier Peak is spectacular. Olivia tailored the climb to fit our needs and availability. No prior climbing experience is necessary as Olivia is a great teacher and climbing coach. Truly you're in great hands with Olivia! Recommend that you pay extra for breakfast and dinner to be provided as the food was tasty and plentiful. Olivia even went out huckleberry picking after we set-up camp on our last night-pot full of the tastiest berries ever fresh from the bush! I really can't say enough about what a wonderful time we had with Olivia. The trip was magical and we plan to climb Baker next summer with Olivia as our fearless leader and guide. One final note-I would recommend doing the trip in 5 days due to the long approach. read more

We booked a half-day rock climbing with the Northwest Mountain School for our family of 5 (ages from 51 - 25) during a recent Leavenworth vacation during COVID. It turned out to be a HOT day, temps over in the 90s and we weren't sure how this would work given social distancing issues. We also came with with varying levels of experience, from none to city climbing gym experience only. Despite our late afternoon due to online work commitment, our guide John Race knew where to start us to stay cool and move as the shade moved. Both John and his wife Olivia are world class climbers, and Leavenworth is lucky to have them here running this school when they are not out on their own adventures! John soon had us all working two different routes/ropes at the same time, and we learned how to properly belay with top notch equipment. We took a picnic dinner, and moved to harder routes later in the afternoon. I was also impressed with the climbing shoes - available in all sizes - and cleaned after every use. The sticky rubber worked perfectly, and together with John's guidance, gave us a nice base of ability, a wonderful family memory, and a longing to do it again! Perfect activity during COVID! read more

I can't recommend NMS more highly if you are looking for a guide service or experienced teachers to further your education in various outdoor activities. I booked a three-day mountaineering class and Mount Baker summit with them and had an amazing time. From booking to leading up to the trip to the trip itself, working with NMS was wonderful and easy. While bad weather ended up meaning a summit wasn't possible, my guides still made sure I got the most out of the trip, and honestly I think I ended up learning more than if weather had been clear and perfect. I appreciated that my guides were clearly happy with their jobs and enjoyed teaching a relative beginner - I felt like they always had my best interests in mind and wanted me to come away from the trip feeling confident... and I did! I had heard many praises of NMS before I signed up for a class with them, and now my own personal experience bears out all of out too. If you choose to work with them, you're going to have a great experience, no matter the weather or other factors that come into play. There are lots of choices for services in this region, but you won't find anything better! read more

On August 1, 2019, I spent a full day in Leavenworth with Northwest Mountain School guide Travis Wiel, who had recently joined their staff. I needed to get some practice for an upcoming 6 day climb in Boston Basin, and we did a couple of 5.6 routes. We first did Groundhog Day on the February Buttress. This fairly well mimicked the climbing along the West Ridge of Forbidden Peak. We next went to Castle Rock and did the Midway route. I got gripped on a couple of sections, especially the step-across from the top of Jello Tower. Travis was at all times very calm and encouraging. Whenever I was struggling, he'd either talk me through it or even demonstrate how to move. He's a very good teacher, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him for a day of climbing instruction. Olivia set me up for this session, and I greatly appreciate it. My experience with NMS was quite positive, and reading up on them, they are widely regarded among the best local alpine services. read more

I had great experiences with Northwest Mountain School on two trips last summer, Mt Baker and Glacier Peak. I had Matt as a guide for both trips who was simply awesome. He was very knowledgeable and personable and great to hang out with, which is very important when you're spending that much time around someone. The trips were well organized and Olivia was great in answering any questions that came up and providing logistical details. The rental gear and group gear was in great condition and the food was great. I met John during the Mt Baker trip as he was guiding another group the same weekend and he was very friendly and full of fun stories. Everybody I've dealt with at Northwest Mountain School gives me confidence in their ability to plan and carry out safe trips and to teach you the skills you need to know. As for destinations, Mt Baker and Glacier Peak are both great trips full of amazing scenery along the way and I highly recommend them both. read more

We booked a day of climbing for a group of young adult (18-49) cancer survivors. We had a solid mix of newbies and experienced climbers and the guides, Madhu and Nick were incredibly patient, knowledgeable, and trustworthy. They explained techniques and the basics of climbing in easily understandable ways, while making the whole experience fun! Our group had such a good time climbing, the guides graciously set up new routes for us and even conducted a repel. Everyone left the day feeling like they had challenged themselves, with a couple of newbies wanting to continue climbing back at home! Communication leading up to the event was easy and reliable. Olivia is awesome and was prompt in answering all of my (many) questions! Thanks Olivia! Highly recommend this outfitter! read more

I took the Aiare 1 class with Willie, one of the younger employees of this small outfit. I was super-impressed both with the organizational management as well as with Willie's complete skill set. Well designed curriculum, thorough execution, great flexibility, clear goal-setting and positive reinforcement when appropriate. Willie was willing--and able--to take us deep into snow science arcana, once it became clear that several participants were extra-curious. He knew how to strike the critical balance between basic understanding and detail, knew how to use his experience for our advantage without ever being overbearing, showed excellent pacing and sensitivity to participant needs, and knew when to say he didn't know on questions too esoteric! read more

My husband and I did the Ortler with NMS in March 2022. I am not exaggerating when I say that it was a life-changing trip. Coming out of COVID, we had lots of extra questions and concerns going into the trip - NMS was super helpful and communicative and made sure we felt safe and confident going in. John and Pete were awesome guides. Their knowledge and expertise was evident throughout the tour. The Ortler itself is incredible - the huts are beautiful and clean, the staff is amazing, and the food was delicious. Of course, the skiing was great and the views of the Italian Alps were otherworldly. I would definitely recommend this tour, even if it's your first hut experience! We will definitely be touring with NMS again. read more

I can't say enough great things about the Northwest Mountain School's AIARE LEVEL 1 class. Our teacher, Willie was so knowledgeable, professional and passionate about the subject. Not only did I learn a ton from this course, I also had a really great time. I got exactly what I wanted out of the Level 1 class. You walk away with a systematic approach to determining risk before you set out in the back country, a basic understanding of avalanche types and a good deal of snow science. There is also lots of focus on human dynamics and how this impacts your decision making and communication as a team. If you want to take an AIARE class, definitely take it with them! read more

Just completed my 6th trip with guides from Northwest Mountain School. This group is top notch. They are highly organized, highly skilled, and they don't forget to have fun along the way. I have recommended them to several friends who have all had the same, high level experience with this group. My trips have included four trips to the Alps and several trips climbing and skiing in the Cascades. Each trip was a blast! And most importantly, they manage their trips to as close to zero risk as possible. It is most refreshing how seriously they make safety a priority. Northwest Mountain School has exceeded expectations every time. read more

I took the 1-day Crevasse Rescue course with Adam, an accomplished and strong climber/guide. The class was great and took place at Stevens Pass. The class moved quickly enough to cover a variety of topics required for crevasse rescue (building snow anchors, setting up 2:1 and 6:1 pulley systems, catching a fall, etc.). I strongly recommend the class for anyone who wants to spend time on glaciers. The 1-day class is great if you already have some experience with ice and snow travel but need to learn crevasse rescue. If you're completely new (and want to practice on an actual glacier), the 3-day class would be a great option. read more

I took part in the 6 day glacier mountaineering course with NMS. Olivia was extremely responsive and helpful. The communication was handled professionally allowing for clear expectations for both parties. Madhu read the weather predictions perfectly allowing for a summit on Mt. Baker on the only day feasible, deviating from the typical course format to do so. I was thoroughly impressed with Madhu's professionalism, work ethic, knowledge, and kind nature. He clearly has a passion for teaching. The expectations I set for the course were exceeded, and I would recommend the NMS to my friends and colleagues. read more

I've done two of the classic European ski tours with thse folks- the Haute Route back in 2015 and the Berner Oberland this last April (2022). These great tours made all the better with the help of Northwest Mountain School. Having them take care of all the logistics of hut bookings is a pleasure. The guides on these trips were outstanding- they really love their profession and provide a safe and fun trip. The guides also know the terrain intimately and have a whole host of options available if weather and/or conditions disrupt the original plan. I certainly plan to sign up with NMS again in the future. read more

I have been out twice now with NMS and both experiences were exactly what I was looking for. The first time was a refresher course in basic rock climbing skills after a long layoff. The most recent was a custom day-long program covering anchors, gear placement, trad leading, and crack climbing technique. My guide had incredible amounts of experience but treated me like I knew what I was doing. The office responded promptly and was easy to deal with. I wouldn't hesitate to hire NMS in the future...and probably will do so. Warren read more

I highly recommend hiring Northwest Mountain School for a fabulous family adventure. We booked two days of rock climbing with Olivia last month and it so much fun! All Covid-19 precautions were taken which made us feel comfortable and safe. My teenage daughters did their first multi pitch climb and it was so empowering for them to learn new skills and be taught by such a strong, kind, competent woman. What a treat it was to do something new and bond as a family. We have wonderful memories thanks to Olivia. read more

Absolutely loved using this school. Everything from the initial email communications to the final moment with the instructor has been professional and of the utmost quality. The instructor, Craig, did an excellent job explaining things efficiently, and ensuring everyone got what they were looking for out of the class. The office staff went above and beyond in explaining answers to my questions and providing more information than I requested so I'd be as fully prepared as I could be. Highly recommended. read more

Couldn't have asked for a better experience with a climbing guide. Absolutely smiled all day. Olivia was patient, safe, thorough, supportive, instructive, encouraging, and kind. She tailored the experience in exactly the way I'd hoped, and it was the highlight of my ten-day visit to Leavenworth. The place is a rock-climbing mecca in Washington with just about something for everyone. NMS knows all the spots. Loved my day with NMS and look forward to returning one day. read more

Our family of 5 booked a beginners rock climbing day with Northwest Mountain School. John Race, our instructor, was the best. Great humor, great instructor, extremely competent, knew how to tailor it to our level and progress us as the day went on to have us accomplish successful climbs and fall in love with rock climbing. Nothing but good things to say. Don't hesitate to book with them. read more