CTSS Team

Here’s the latest from our team on Mount Baker.

Last night, they were lulled to sleep by heavy rain, but not before getting some great views of the upper mountain and a little time for skills training. Today, the weather cleared, and they got a full day of training in the upper Sandy Camp area.

The team is now back in camp for the evening, drying out their boots, and happy to be enjoying the mountain out of their tents. The team will be heading for the summit early tomorrow morning (Saturday, August 9th).

Guide Mike King let us know that the team is doing well, has rocked their skills training, and is looking forward to tomorrow’s summit bid. We are wishing the entire team the best of luck!

Photos from the CTSS Archives

Our FINAL Mount Baker Alpine Academy team has hit the trail. Yesterday evening, CTSS Guide Mike King checked in from Base Camp near the Easton Glacier. After a wet start to the day, the team set up camp and had a moment to dry out before settling in for the evening.

Today, the team will focus on honing and acquiring new technical skills. Here’s a peek at what our climbers will be practicing

• Crampon techniques
• Self-arrest training,
• Climbing efficiency
• Knots, hitches, and rope craft
• Rappelling
• Snow anchors & running protection

If you want to learn more about essential mountaineering skills, check out our recent blog: Mike’s Big Four: Skills ALL Mountaineers Need, and if you’re ready to take the plunge, join us in 2026 for one of our Mount Baker Alpine Academy dates.

Photos from the CTSS Archives. Photo Credit: CTSS Guide Dallas Glass

Our fourth Mount Baker Alpine Academy hit the trail last week. After a few days of glacier school, where the team honed their rope-travel and self-arrest skills, the team set off on an early more summit bid. After one of the most glorious sunrises we’ve seen in a while, 100% of our team reached the summit on Saturday, August 2nd.

Congratulations to:

• Lexi C.
• Dawn A.
• Nadejda I.
• CTSS Guide Dallas Glass

We have one more 5-Day Alpine Academy on Mount Baker in store for our 2025 season, but not to worry, our books are open for our 2026 season with more than 10 dates to choose from, plus offerings in both our All-Women’s and Masters formats. If you’re ready to take a lead into the big mountains or you’re honing your skills for a bigger objective, join us in 2026 for a spin on Komo Kulshan.

Photos courtesy of Dallas Glass

Our Kilimanjaro team climbers stood on top of the Roof of Africa yesterday morning at about 7:30 am local time. We are proud to share that we had 100% of our climbers reach the summit, including our youngest Kilimanjaro summiteer to date, Simon (12 years old), who climbed with his mom, Kristin. A massive kudos goes out to the entire team, including climbers, guides, and support staff.

Congratulations to:

• Michael D.
• Georgie D.
• Madhur K.
• Richa K.
• Kristin S.
• Simon S.
• CTSS Senior Everest Guide Pega Sherpa
• CTSS Tanzanian Lead Guide Mary
• CTSS Tanzanian Assistant Guides Nesto & Magnus

Photos courtesy of Pega Sherpa

After a day of climbing high and sleeping low, the team is ready to take on the famed Barranco wall today. This section is often referred to as the “Breakfast Wall” and requires a bit of scrambling, using both hands and feet to navigate the trail as it winds upward along narrow ledges and natural steps carved into the rock. Though it looks imposing from below, the climb is incredibly fun and rewarding, with each pause offering wider and wilder views of the Barranco Valley falling away behind our team.

At the top, climbers are met with a sweeping vista across the Karanga Valley, the Heim Glacier, and deep into the plains of Tanzania below. From here, they will move through the high desert terrain until they reach Karanga Camp (13,123 ft / 4,000 m) this afternoon.

Our Star Guide Pega Sherpa checked in with our team and shared a few of his thoughts on being back on Kilimanjaro.

“The past few days have been nothing short of amazing, exploring the vibrant town of Moshi, hiking to the stunning Materuni Waterfalls, handcrafting local coffee, and starting our journey through the Machame Gate for the Kilimanjaro ascent.

Our team is strong, and the local support crew has been phenomenal every step of the way. Spirits are high, and with just one more day before the summit push, excitement is building. A well-deserved celebration awaits at the top.”

Thank you, Pega, for your leadership on the mountain and for sharing these photos. Tomorrow, our team will move to High Camp in preparation for their summit bid. We wish all of our climbers the best of luck on their continued ascent to the Roof of Africa.

Our Baker team has safely arrived in Sedro-Woolley, and after gear checks and a guide briefing with CTSS guide Dallas Glass, they are now en route to their base camp for the next 5 days at Squak Glacier. They should arrive at camp later today after making the trek from the trailhead.

On the Roof of Africa, Star Guide Pega Sherpa checked in with our team from Shira Camp. The team made good time moving up today and arrived at camp before lunch.

Today, the team got a full taste of the heather moorland zone with panoramic view of Kibo’s snowcap, Mawenzi’s jagged spires, and Mount Meru to the West. Once on the Shira Plateau, an ancient caldera, the views didn’t stop. There, the team took in the open plains and sweeping views of Kibo’s slopes with the outline of the Western Breach (a trekking route that is currently closed) looming in the background.

In the photos below, you can get a sense of the dramatic shifts in the landscape from the lush rainforest to the panoramic moorland.  

Our Kilimanjaro climbers have officially hit the trail! Today, the team left Moshi and, after a quick drive through the cultivation zone, which features lush highlands and roadside markets, they arrived at the Machame Gate (1,800m / 5,905ft), the starting point of their Kilimanjaro ascent.

After passing through the gates, the team will be greeted quickly by their second climate zone, the lush montane rainforest, where a cloak of emerald is alive with birdsong, flashes of monkeys leaping overhead, towering tree ferns, and ancient moss-draped trees.

Continuing upward above 3,000 meters, the team will end their day at the Machame Camp, perched in their third climate zone, the heather moorland. This camp is set on a plateau at the edge of the forest, with sweeping views through the mist and a stream nearby for fresh mountain water.

Here is a peek at Kilimanjaro’s different climate zones, plus an epic team shot from Star Guide Pega Sherpa.

Our Kilimanjaro team climbers have arrived safely in Tanzania, and they are already getting out and about before they begin their trek up the Machame Route. This team climb is led by Star Guide Pega Shera, who is known for his technical skills, patience, and thoughtfulness while guiding.

Pega brings 7x Everest summits, 2x Cho Oyu summits, and 2x Lhotse summits to the table, which means this expedition is a unique opportunity for our climbers to not only tag one of the Seven Summits but also learn from one of the best guides in the Himalayas. We offer Star Guided expeditions on Kilimanjaro because it’s such a great progress peak, and many climbers go on to have future 6,000m, 7,000m, and 8,000m goals. These rare opportunities are the perfect opportunity to pick the brains of some of the best in the business.

Since arriving, our team has completed their gear guides and a guide briefing with enough time to catch a few cultural highlights. Today, the team did an exclusive tour to the spectacular Materuni Waterfall along the Mware River. After that, they took a tour of a local coffee plantation and participated in the coffee roasting experience.

Tomorrow, the team will head into Kilimanjaro National Park and cross through the Machame Gate to begin their climb.

Thank you to Pega Sherpa for sharing these shots from your waterfall tour.