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region-ultimenu-mega-winter-adventures"><section id="block-winteradventuresmegamenu" class="block block-block-content block-block-contentf848e4b7-f094-4b67-98dd-bce809743a74 clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><div class="col-sm-3"><h3>Adventures</h3><ul><li><a href="/adventures/skiing-snowboarding/washington-pass-backcountry-skiing">Washington Pass Backcountry Skiing</a></li><li><a href="/adventures/skiing-snowboarding/stevens-pass-backcountry-skiing">Stevens Pass Backcountry Skiing</a></li><li><a href="/adventures/skiing-snowboarding/north-cascades-national-park-skiing">North Cascades National Park Skiing</a></li><li><a href="/adventures/skiing-snowboarding/mount-baker-skiing">Mount Baker Skiing</a></li><li><a href="/adventures/skiing-snowboarding/backcountry-seasons-pass">Backcountry Season Pass</a></li><li><a href="/adventures/skiing-snowboarding/alaska-skiing">Alaska Skiing</a></li></ul></div><div class="col-sm-3"><h3>Courses</h3><ul><li><a href="/courses/skiing-snowboarding/aiare-level-1-avalanche-course">AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Course</a></li><li><a href="/courses/skiing-snowboarding/aiare-level-2-avalanche-course">AIARE Level 2 Avalanche Course</a></li><li><a href="/adventures/skiing-snowboarding/intro-backcountry-skiing">Intro to Backcountry Skiing</a></li><li><a href="/courses/skiing-snowboarding/womens-backcountry-series">Women's Backcountry Series</a></li><li><a href="/courses/skiing-snowboarding/ski-mountaineering-course">Ski Mountaineering Course</a></li><li><a href="/courses/skiing-snowboarding/terrain-assessment-tour">Terrain Assessment Tour</a></li><li><a href="/courses/skiing-snowboarding/rescue-refresher-course">Winter Rescue Refresher Course</a></li><li><a href="/courses/climbing-guide-training-skiing-snowboarding/amga-course-and-exam-prep">AMGA Course and Exam Prep</a></li></ul></div><div class="col-sm-3"><h3>International</h3><ul><li><a href="/adventures/international-skiing-snowboarding/japan-skiing">Japan Skiing</a></li><li><a href="/adventures/international-skiing-snowboarding/ortler-tour">Ortler Tour</a></li><li><a href="/adventures/international-skiing-snowboarding/urner-haute-route">Urner Haute Route</a></li><li><a href="/adventures/international-skiing-snowboarding/berner-oberland-skiing">Berner Oberland Skiing</a></li><li><a href="/adventures/international-skiing-snowboarding/haute-route">Haute Route</a></li><li><a href="/adventures/international-skiing-snowboarding/silvretta-tour">Silvretta Tour</a></li><li><a href="/adventures/international-skiing-snowboarding/dolomites-skiing">Dolomites Skiing</a></li></ul></div></div> </section> </div> </section></li><li class="ultimenu__item uitem has-ultimenu"><span data-drupal-link-system-path="" class="ultimenu__link">Summer Adventures<span class="caret" aria-hidden="true"></span></span><section class="ultimenu__flyout is-htb"> <div class="ultimenu__region region region--count-1 region-ultimenu-mega-summer-adventures"><section id="block-summeradventuresmegamenu" class="block block-block-content block-block-content3edde970-c6bf-4e32-b607-37c65d439686 clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><div class="col-sm-3"><h3>Adventures</h3><ul><li><a href="/adventures/climbing/washington-pass-climbing">Washington Pass Climbing</a></li><li><a href="/adventures/index-rock-climbing">Index Rock Climbing</a></li><li><a href="/routes/climbing/liberty-bell-beckey-route">Beckey Route</a></li><li><a href="/adventures/climbing/north-cascades-national-park-climbing">North Cascades National Park Climbing</a></li><li><a href="/routes/climbing/forbidden-peak-west-ridge">West Ridge Forbidden</a></li><li><a href="/adventures/climbing/mount-baker-climbing">Mount Baker Climbing</a></li><li><a href="/routes/climbing/mount-baker-north-ridge">North Ridge Mt Baker</a></li><li><a href="/routes/climbing/mount-shuksan-sulphide-glacier">Mount Shuksan Climbing</a></li><li><a href="/routes/climbing/mount-shuksan-fischer-chimneys">Mount Shuksan - Fisher Chimneys</a></li><li><a href="/routes/climbing/eldorado-peak-east-ridge">Eldorado</a></li><li><a href="/adventures/climbing/rock-climbing-mazama">Rock Climbing Mazama</a></li><li><a href="/adventures/climbing/vantage-rock-climbing">Vantage Rock Climbing</a></li><li><a href="/adventures/climbing/beyond-volcanoes">Beyond the Volcanoes</a></li><li><a href="/adventures/climbing/mount-rainier-climbing">Mount Rainier Climbing</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ncmountainguides.com/adventures/climbing-guide-training/vesper-peak">Vesper Peak</a></li></ul></div><div class="col-sm-3"><h3>Courses</h3><ul><li><a href="/courses/climbing/multi-pitch-rock-climbing-course">Multi-Pitch Rock Climbing Course</a></li><li><a href="/courses/climbing/crevasse-rescue-and-glacier-travel">Crevasse Rescue and Glacier Travel</a></li><li><a href="/courses/climbing/rock-rescue">Rock Rescue</a></li><li><a href="/courses/climbing-guide-training-skiing-snowboarding/amga-course-and-exam-prep">AMGA Course and Exam Prep</a></li></ul></div><div class="col-sm-3"><h3>International</h3><ul><li><a href="/adventures/climbing-international/kilimanjaro">Kilimanjaro</a></li><li><a href="/adventures/climbing-international/european-alps-climbing">European Alps Climbing</a></li></ul></div></div> </section> </div> </section></li><li class="ultimenu__item uitem has-ultimenu"><span data-drupal-link-system-path="" class="ultimenu__link">About Us<span class="caret" aria-hidden="true"></span></span><section class="ultimenu__flyout is-htb"> <div class="ultimenu__region region region--count-1 region-ultimenu-mega-about-us"><section id="block-megamenuabout" class="block block-block-content block-block-content5bbbdcb2-24c5-4b6c-b158-4c0d04ab6c2a clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><div class="row"><div class="col-sm-3"><ul><li><a href="/about-us">About NCMG </a></li></ul></div><div class="col-sm-3"><ul><li><a href="/about-us/our-guides">Our Guides</a></li><li><a href="/about-us/choosing-guide-service">Choosing a Guide Service</a></li></ul></div><div class="col-sm-3"><ul><li><a href="/about-us/faq">FAQs</a></li></ul></div></div></div> </section> </div> </section></li><li class="ultimenu__item uitem has-ultimenu"><span data-drupal-link-system-path="" class="ultimenu__link">Resources<span class="caret" aria-hidden="true"></span></span><section class="ultimenu__flyout is-htb"> <div class="ultimenu__region region region--count-1 region-ultimenu-mega-resources"><section id="block-megamenuresources" class="block block-block-content block-block-contentf8257fe1-500d-4b21-b3a7-14b460953330 clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><div class="row"><div class="col-sm-3"><ul><li><a 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type="image/jpeg" width="1200" height="500"/> <source srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/half_banner_lg/public/blogimage.jpg?itok=YeR8VpQb 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1200px)" type="image/jpeg" width="1920" height="720"/> <img loading="eager" src="/sites/default/files/styles/half_banner_lg/public/blogimage.jpg?itok=YeR8VpQb" width="1920" height="720" alt="" class="img-responsive" /> </picture> </div></div><div class="views-field views-field-nothing-1"><span class="field-content"><div class="group-caption-wrapper-front container"><div class="field-name-title"><h1><a href="/blog/feed" hreflang="und">Blog</a></h1></div><div class="field-name-field-sub-title"><p>Stories of recent adventures</p></div></br><div class="arrow-down"><div class="center-me"><a href="#body-anchor"><img src="/themes/ncmg_cdn/images/flat-circle-round-down-arrow.svg" alt="Down Arrow"></a></div></div> </div></div></span></div> </div><div class="picture-gradient"></div> </div> </div></div> </section> </div></div> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="anchor" id="body-anchor"></div> <div class="container-fluid content-wrapper-main max-1350"}}> <aside class="col-md-3 col-md-push-9" role="complementary"> <div class="region region-sidebar-second"> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-ncmg-cdn-ncmg-subtheme-menu-menu-blog-categories-menu" id="block-ncmg-cdn-ncmg-subtheme-menu-menu-blog-categories"> <h2 id="block-ncmg-cdn-ncmg-subtheme-menu-menu-blog-categories-menu"></h2> <ul class="menu menu--menu-blog-categories nav"> <li class="first"> <a href="/blog/essays-articles" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/134">Essays & Articles</a> </li> <li> <a href="/blog/gear-equipment">Gear & Equipment</a> </li> <li> <a href="/blog/general" title="" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/137">General</a> </li> <li> <a href="/blog/other" title="" data-drupal-link-system-path="taxonomy/term/138">Other</a> </li> <li> <a href="/blog/trip-reports">Trip Reports</a> </li> <li class="last"> <a href="/blog/videos">Videos</a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </aside> <div class="col-sm-9 col-md-pull-3"> <div class="region region-content"><div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div><section class="views-element-container block block-views block-views-blockblog-block-1 clearfix" id="block-views-block-blog-block-1"> <div class="form-group"><div class="view view-blog view-id-blog view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-19c3976cf64e82f4986abbc899d8cf172aaf30f48ad524c3764f57aac911759b"> <div class="view-content"> <div data-drupal-views-infinite-scroll-content-wrapper class="views-infinite-scroll-content-wrapper clearfix form-group"> <div class="views-row"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><h2 class="field-content"><a href="/blog/ski-tour-training" hreflang="en">Ski Tour Training </a></h2></div><div class="views-field views-field-uid"><span class="views-label views-label-uid">Posted by </span><em class="field-content"><a href="/about-us/our-guides/andrealaughery" hreflang="en">AndreaLaughery</a></em></div><div class="views-field views-field-created"><span class="views-label views-label-created">Posted:</span><em class="field-content"><time datetime="2023-10-25T08:50:27-07:00">10/25/2023 - 08:50</time></em></div><div class="views-field views-field-body"><div class="field-content"><p>One of the most common questions our guides get on a regular basis is<br>“What do you do to stay in shape?”. The fact is, for most working guides,<br>just guiding keeps us in shape for the bulk of our mountain adventures. For<br>many of our guests however, the demands of a career, family, and other<br>pulls on your time, don’t allow for the ability to spend full days in the<br>mountains training or building fitness. Many of our guests spend a big part<br>of their year, thinking and dreaming about their climbing or skiing vacation</p></div></div><div class="views-field views-field-view-node"><span class="field-content"><a href="/blog/ski-tour-training" hreflang="en">Read More</a></span></div></div> <div class="views-row"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><h2 class="field-content"><a href="/blog/finger-injuries" hreflang="en">Finger Injuries</a></h2></div><div class="views-field views-field-uid"><span class="views-label views-label-uid">Posted by </span><em class="field-content"><a href="/about-us/our-guides/jeff-ward" hreflang="en">Jeff Ward</a></em></div><div class="views-field views-field-created"><span class="views-label views-label-created">Posted:</span><em class="field-content"><time datetime="2017-07-30T12:51:50-07:00">07/30/2017 - 12:51</time></em></div><div class="views-field views-field-body"><div class="field-content"><h2 dir="ltr">Fingers</h2><p>by Keith Rumburg</p><p><em>*Heads up, I’m not a doctor. The following information should be used as a guideline for preventing climbing-related injuries. For more in-depth knowledge, you should consult a professional.</em></p></div></div><div class="views-field views-field-view-node"><span class="field-content"><a href="/blog/finger-injuries" hreflang="en">Read More</a></span></div></div> <div class="views-row"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><h2 class="field-content"><a href="/blog/guide-favorites-larry-goldie" hreflang="en">Guide Favorites: Larry Goldie</a></h2></div><div class="views-field views-field-uid"><span class="views-label views-label-uid">Posted by </span><em class="field-content"><a href="/about-us/our-guides/jeff-ward" hreflang="en">Jeff Ward</a></em></div><div class="views-field views-field-created"><span class="views-label views-label-created">Posted:</span><em class="field-content"><time datetime="2017-07-22T09:59:27-07:00">07/22/2017 - 09:59</time></em></div><div class="views-field views-field-body"><div class="field-content"><p dir="ltr">Route name: NE Ridge of Black Peak</p><p>When you climbed it last: Last Summer</p><p>Short description of route: Beautiful hike through alpine terrain to Wing lake and bivy sites. From there, snowfields increase in steepness to the notch at base of ridge. Long, exposed and moderate climbing (usually done in mountain boots or tennies) up to one of the tallest summits around. After a few hundred feet, the descent turns into a walk off. </p></div></div><div class="views-field views-field-view-node"><span class="field-content"><a href="/blog/guide-favorites-larry-goldie" hreflang="en">Read More</a></span></div></div> <div class="views-row"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><h2 class="field-content"><a href="/blog/guide-favorites-josh-cole" hreflang="en">Guide Favorites: Josh Cole</a></h2></div><div class="views-field views-field-uid"><span class="views-label views-label-uid">Posted by </span><em class="field-content"><a href="/about-us/our-guides/jeff-ward" hreflang="en">Jeff Ward</a></em></div><div class="views-field views-field-created"><span class="views-label views-label-created">Posted:</span><em class="field-content"><time datetime="2017-06-27T16:14:04-07:00">06/27/2017 - 16:14</time></em></div><div class="views-field views-field-body"><div class="field-content"><p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-3d12a7c6-ebe1-7655-1cf2-d3b5abd20077">Route: West Ridge of Forbidden</b></p><p> </p><p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-3d12a7c6-ebe1-7655-1cf2-d3b5abd20077">Last Climbed: Usually I guide it a few times per year</b></p><p> </p></div></div><div class="views-field views-field-view-node"><span class="field-content"><a href="/blog/guide-favorites-josh-cole" hreflang="en">Read More</a></span></div></div> <div class="views-row"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><h2 class="field-content"><a href="/blog/monday-stoke" hreflang="en">Monday Stoke</a></h2></div><div class="views-field views-field-uid"><span class="views-label views-label-uid">Posted by </span><em class="field-content"><a href="/about-us/our-guides/jeff-ward" hreflang="en">Jeff Ward</a></em></div><div class="views-field views-field-created"><span class="views-label views-label-created">Posted:</span><em class="field-content"><time datetime="2017-02-06T17:55:40-08:00">02/06/2017 - 17:55</time></em></div><div class="views-field views-field-body"><div class="field-content"><p>It is deep out there right now and the snow keeps falling. Don't miss it!</p><p>Thanks for the photo Bill Devlin: <a href="https://facebook.com/billdpix?__mref=message_bubble" target="_blank">facebook.com/billdpix</a><br><img alt="Huge storm in early Feb 2017" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a74da181-ec82-4e82-b825-95f31f4e7790" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/NCH-TheRest-Day3-9.jpg"></p></div></div><div class="views-field views-field-view-node"><span class="field-content"><a href="/blog/monday-stoke" hreflang="en">Read More</a></span></div></div> <div class="views-row"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><h2 class="field-content"><a href="/blog/north-cascades-heli" hreflang="en">North Cascades Heli</a></h2></div><div class="views-field views-field-uid"><span class="views-label views-label-uid">Posted by </span><em class="field-content"><a href="/about-us/our-guides/jeff-ward" hreflang="en">Jeff Ward</a></em></div><div class="views-field views-field-created"><span class="views-label views-label-created">Posted:</span><em class="field-content"><time datetime="2017-02-06T15:36:18-08:00">02/06/2017 - 15:36</time></em></div><div class="views-field views-field-body"><div class="field-content"><p>Check out the skiing last week with North Cascade Heli. This was before the big storm. NCH is our "sister" company - where all of our ski guides work when not guiding for us and is run by Paul Butler, one of the NCMG owners. </p><p>We feel very fortunate to share this amazing terrain with NCH. If you haven't gotten a chance to explore the North Cascades at Washington Pass you are definitely missing out. It is a special place. </p></div></div><div class="views-field views-field-view-node"><span class="field-content"><a href="/blog/north-cascades-heli" hreflang="en">Read More</a></span></div></div> <div class="views-row"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><h2 class="field-content"><a href="/blog/backcountry-conditions-report-early-february" hreflang="en">Backcountry Conditions Report - Early February</a></h2></div><div class="views-field views-field-uid"><span class="views-label views-label-uid">Posted by </span><em class="field-content"><a href="/about-us/our-guides/jeff-ward" hreflang="en">Jeff Ward</a></em></div><div class="views-field views-field-created"><span class="views-label views-label-created">Posted:</span><em class="field-content"><time datetime="2017-02-02T14:57:38-08:00">02/02/2017 - 14:57</time></em></div><div class="views-field views-field-body"><div class="field-content"><p>It’s been a while since we have written a Backcountry Conditions Report. That could mean one of two things. Either the skiing sucks and we don’t want to talk about it or the skiing has been good and we’ve been too busy skiing to get on the computer. Fortunately for everyone’s sake the skiing has been good. Sorry for the lack of communication.</p></div></div><div class="views-field views-field-view-node"><span class="field-content"><a href="/blog/backcountry-conditions-report-early-february" hreflang="en">Read More</a></span></div></div> <div class="views-row"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><h2 class="field-content"><a href="/blog/backcountry-conditions-report-early-december-2016" hreflang="en">Backcountry Conditions Report - Early December, 2016</a></h2></div><div class="views-field views-field-uid"><span class="views-label views-label-uid">Posted by </span><em class="field-content"><a href="/about-us/our-guides/josh-cole" hreflang="en">Josh Cole</a></em></div><div class="views-field views-field-created"><span class="views-label views-label-created">Posted:</span><em class="field-content"><time datetime="2016-12-07T12:32:49-08:00">12/07/2016 - 12:32</time></em></div><div class="views-field views-field-body"><div class="field-content"><p>Well, from my facebook lurking, it seems like a lot of my friends in Washington are enjoying some epic early season conditions, and the same is true in the Washington Pass area along with pretty good stability!</p></div></div><div class="views-field views-field-view-node"><span class="field-content"><a href="/blog/backcountry-conditions-report-early-december-2016" hreflang="en">Read More</a></span></div></div> <div class="views-row"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><h2 class="field-content"><a href="/blog/besties" hreflang="en">Besties</a></h2></div><div class="views-field views-field-uid"><span class="views-label views-label-uid">Posted by </span><em class="field-content"><a href="/about-us/our-guides/jeff-ward" hreflang="en">Jeff Ward</a></em></div><div class="views-field views-field-created"><span class="views-label views-label-created">Posted:</span><em class="field-content"><time datetime="2016-12-06T11:45:07-08:00">12/06/2016 - 11:45</time></em></div><div class="views-field views-field-body"><div class="field-content"><p>This is a picture of my bestie (my BBSP if you will – best backcountry ski partner). His name is Mike. He likes to ski pow. This picture was taken yesterday after skiing run after run of over-the-head blower at Stevens Pass. </p><p>Over the past decade Mike has become my most trusted backcountry ski partner, but why? What makes a good backcountry ski partner? It’s different for everyone but here are a few critical elements that make our partnership work. </p></div></div><div class="views-field views-field-view-node"><span class="field-content"><a href="/blog/besties" hreflang="en">Read More</a></span></div></div> <div class="views-row"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><h2 class="field-content"><a href="/blog/how-choose-backcountry-ski-2017-update" hreflang="en">How to Choose a Backcountry Ski - 2017 Update</a></h2></div><div class="views-field views-field-uid"><span class="views-label views-label-uid">Posted by </span><em class="field-content"><a href="/about-us/our-guides/josh-cole" hreflang="en">Josh Cole</a></em></div><div class="views-field views-field-created"><span class="views-label views-label-created">Posted:</span><em class="field-content"><time datetime="2016-10-04T12:41:08-07:00">10/04/2016 - 12:41</time></em></div><div class="views-field views-field-body"><div class="field-content"><p><strong>How to Choose a Backcountry Ski </strong></p></div></div><div class="views-field views-field-view-node"><span class="field-content"><a href="/blog/how-choose-backcountry-ski-2017-update" hreflang="en">Read More</a></span></div></div></div> </div> <ul class="js-pager__items pager" data-drupal-views-infinite-scroll-pager="automatic"> <li class="pager__item"> <a class="button" href="?destination=/&_exception_statuscode=404&page=1" title="Load more items" rel="next">Load More</a> </li></ul> </div></div> </section> <article> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-sub-title field--type-text field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Stories of recent adventures</p></div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="post-content-full1 container-fluid"}> </div> <div class="post-content-contained1 container-fluid max-1350"}> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <footer class="footer container-fluid" role="contentinfo"> <div class="max-1350"> <div class="col-md-4"> <div class="region region-footer-left"><section id="block-ncmg-cdn-ncmg-subtheme-block-1" class="block block-block-content block-block-contentacc1aad6-1caf-44d3-b700-b9c73cd4d80e clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><h3>GET IN TOUCH</h3><div>North Cascades Mountain Guides</div><div>2 Country Road</div><div>Mazama, WA 98833</div><div>509-996-3194</div><div> </div><div><a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6b02050d042b050806041e051f0a02050c1e020f0e1845080406"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1e777078715e707d73716b706a7f7770796b777a7b6d307d7173">[email protected]</span></a></div><div> </div><div><p style="font-size:11px;line-height:13px;width:80%;">NCMG operates under Special Use Permits with the Okanogan-Wenatchee, and Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forests, and is an equal opportunity outdoor recreation service provider. </p><p style="font-size:11px;"><img src="https://skitheloup.com/wp-content/uploads/forest-service-official-logo.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type alt="Unites States Forest Service" width="30" height="33"></p><p style="font-size:11px;">© NCMG 2021. 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