Mountaineering Basic Course
January – October 2019
Bellingham, Fidalgo Island, Penticton, BC, Mount Baker, and More!
The Basic Course is live this week!  Click on the links below to learn more.
The Bellingham Mountaineering Basic Course will teach you the skills needed to safely get on top of higher ground via rock, snow, and glacier travel.  Apply to improve your skills and build your knowledge and confidence in the great outdoors. Not only do you have access to amazing local instructors, but you get to test your skills on awesome field trips to incredible local recreation sites.

Info Meeting: November 13 @ Backcountry Essentials
Basic Mountaineering Course
Application Form

Summer BBQ Hosted by the 2018 Basic Students
Tuesday, September 11. 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Whatcom Falls Park, small picnic shelter
Our last BBQ of the year!  This one is dedicated to our amazing all volunteer instructor cadre.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  Friends, family, furry friends.  Bring them all and join us.  The 2018 Basic Course students will be taking care of ALL of the cooking this month!  Hope to see you there!

Mount Baker Hill Climb
Sunday, September 9. 7:00 am-12:00 pm
Chair 9 to Artist Point
Ascend 4,098 feet from Chair 9 in Glacier to Artist’s Point in approximately 24 miles. The Mt. Baker Highway is rarely closed to motorized vehicles.  With steep elevation and several switchbacks this ride is not for the faint of heart, but the views are stunning. The Mt. Baker Hill Climb began in 2003 (previously hosted by another organization) and was last run in 2013. Whatcom Events has been asked over the years to bring this iconic event back to the community and after preliminary planning, we are ready.

North Cascades Trail Running Festival and Symposium
Wed-Sun, September 12-16.
Mount Backer Lodge
Fall is a good time to be in the mountains. It is even better when one can spend multiple days in a row on trails exploring alpine lakes, hanging glaciers, cascading creeks, and eating ripe huckleberries. And, it might even be the best if between the days of running you can return to a historic cabin, enjoy hot showers, eat delicious meals, and be surrounded by a community of friends who love to run and play in the mountains too! This is the first annual North Cascades Fall Trail Running Festival and Symposium.

Bellingham Traverse
Saturday, September 15. 12:00 pm-5:00 pm
Boundary Bay Brewery
Get Hooked on the Bellingham Traverse, a fun relay race that celebrates the journey of wild salmon. Families, friends and local companies form Chinook (solo), Coho (tandem) and CHUM (relay teams) run, bike and paddle through Bellingham’s scenic parks, winding trails and open waterways.

Queens of Dirt MTB Race
Saturday, September 22. 9:00 am-12:00 pm
Lake Padden
Join us for the 1st annual QOD Mountain Bike Race! This women & junior girls cross-country mountain bike race is intended to create a welcoming experience for new and seasoned female mtb racers of all ages. Course is on Bellingham’s Lake Padden backloop trails.

Sept 8, 22, & 29.  9:00 am-3:30 pm 
Whatcom County
Join these partnered work parties at Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve.  Trail planning for this summer is complete and Whatcom County intends to build approximately 6 miles of new foot, bike, and horse trails in this area.
Sign up here.

Trash Fish
Sat, Sept 9.  9:00 am-3:00 pm 
North Sound Trout Unlimited and Women on the Fly
Join NSTU Treasurer and resident fish whisperer, Brandon Sly, for a fun day of beach cleanup and coho fishing.

This month we will be doing our best to make Bush Point a prettier place by performing a beach cleanup, then taking some time to fish for coho. NSTU will provide everything needed for the cleaning portion of the event. Just bring your fishing gear and any refreshments you want for the day.

Please contact us with any questions or to sign up.

WTA