Current Climbers

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List of Current Climbers

Click here to see the list of current climbers and to find each’s personal webpage.

Fundraising Help

For many people, the idea of raising $3,500 dollars can be as daunting as the idea of climbing a 14,000 foot mountain. You can do both! We’ve included a comprehensive fundraising strategy in your Welcome Packet, full of ideas and inspiration from past climbers and professional fundraisers alike. It’ll help you identify what tactics will work best for you, and provide you with the tools you’ll need for a successful and fun experience. To start, check out our map of agencies we have trained, and find one near your donors!

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Equipment

Most of the gear that you’ll need for the climb is being provided by BAWT, from the backpack and sleeping bag, to the headlamp and glacier glasses. For more information about the $1,500 worth of gear that you get to keep click here. Technical equipment like harnesses, helmets, boots, ropes and ice-axe will be provided at no cost by the guide service.

Some necessary items you may already own. If not, you should consider borrowing, renting or buying them and trying them out before the trip. Down jacket, balaclava, and ski-goggles are a few of these items. For a comprehensive gear list, including required and optional items consult your welcome packet.

Training

Climbing a mountain requires strength, endurance and cardio-vascular fitness along with a huge amount of determination. Proper training will not only get you into "peak" physical condition, but it will also give you the mental edge that you’ll need to continue climbing when you’re fatigued after hours on the mountain with the summit still looming above.

You should start training now and take advantage of every opportunity to exercise. Start taking the stairs, riding your bike to and from work, and carrying a backpack everywhere you go. Climbing hills and working out on a stair machine will build strength in your legs. Taking long hikes (10 or more miles) will build endurance and help your body learn to keep going long after you’re weary. Begin by carrying a pack of 25 lbs and slowly build up to carrying as much as 1/3 of your body weight. If you're in the Bay Area, join us on one of our training hikes.

To keep your workouts interesting mix it up: exercise both indoors and outdoors and do different activities: Running, cycling, weight training (legs, back and shoulders), yoga, climbing and hiking are all fun ways to get and stay in shape. In general you should be working out at least four times a week, and at least one workout per week should have you exerting yourself for several hours. Group training hikes are a great way to keep your training interesting, and to get to know the folks that you’ll be climbing with. (Consult your welcome packet for the listserv email address of your climb-team.)

It’s also important to get to know what hiking at altitude feels like. Consider taking some trips to Yosemite’s Tuolomne meadows, or other areas where day and overnight hikes can take you above 10,000 feet. Although your body will quickly lose acclimatization once you return to lower elevations, knowing what to expect will help you mentally adjust to altitude on the mountain.

Nutrition

Sustained mountaineering is a demanding sport. Your body requires a variety of foods to provide sufficient carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Carbohydrates are the main source of fuel for your body and are the easiest to digest, so they should be consumed during the active portions of the climb. Granola, dried fruits, crackers, and whole grains are great sources of energy-providing carbs. Proteins and fats take more time to digest. By consuming these slow burning fuel sources in the evening you'll replenish calorie stores and stay warm during the night. A wide variety of foods, like spicy snacks, candy bars and hard candies will help you keep eating even when altitude decreases your appetite. While energy bars are a great source of nutrition, you shouldn't rely on them as your only nourishment. The best way to find a successful nutrition plan is to think about delicious foods that pack well and try them out during your training. It is better to go through trial and error before you're headed for the summit.

Safety

The most important indicator of mountaineering success is the safe return of the entire group to the base of the mountain where you’ll celebrate the shared experience. Successful climbers are those who realize that reaching the top is only 49% of climbing. Most accidents happen on the way down because climbers are tired from a long day – the most important thing that you can do to ensure safety for yourself and the entire group is to save enough energy for the descent. Carry enough food and water to keep yourself energized and hydrated, and know your body’s limits. By doing so you’ll find your personal summit, and possibly a lifelong passion along the way.

Moderate (Mt. Whitney, Mt. Shasta, Grand Teton): A great introduction to mountaineering. This climb requires endurance for two days of climbing while carrying a heavy pack (up to 50 pounds). Also entails one or two nights of sleeping at elevation (over 8,000 where atmospheric levels of oxygen are noticeably less than at sea-level) and total elevation gain of 6-7,000 feet. Trip includes either an afternoon of snow-skills instruction at elevation (over 8,000 feet) including self-arrest and roped travel, or two full days of basic and intermediate rock-climbing instruction (Grand Teton only). Familiarity with multi-day backpacking, camping and strenuous hiking is recommended, and independent training for these basic skills is required in the months leading up to your climb. Knowledge of particular mountaineering/climbing skills will be taught throughout the trip and is not required in advance.

Difficult (Mt. Rainier, Pico de Orizaba): This climb requires two days of climbing while carrying a heavy pack (up to 50 pounds) for a total elevation gain of 9,000 feet! Also entails one or two nights of sleeping at elevations above 8,000, where atmospheric oxygen levels are noticeably less than at sea-level. Trip includes an afternoon of snow-skills instruction including self-arrest and roped climbing, in preparation for two days of advanced glacier travel. An ascent of Rainier is best suited for folks who have climbed at least one big mountain before, or have experience with endurance events like marathons, or adventure races. Familiarity with strenuous multi-day backpacking trips is a must - independent training for these basic skills is required during the months leading up to this climb. While first time mountaineers have ascended this peak successfully, it requires a serious commitment to training. Climbers interested in this trip should be comfortable with exposure. Fear of heights is healthy – panic is not. Knowledge of technical climbing skills will be taught throughout the trip and is NOT required in advance.

Very Difficult (Mt. Rainier): This is the most difficult endurance climb in the lower 49 states. Climbers must be physically and mentally prepared to ascend and descend 9,000 feet of elevation in approximately 30 hours, with a short 6-hour rest halfway up the mountain. This climb is suitable for folks who have climbed a big peak before and who know how their bodies react to altitude.

Jargon