The Rope Team Rising Scholarship -
Mountaineering for Girls & Young Women
For the third year in a row we are offering a Mount Baker Mountaineering Scholarship for Girls and Young Women called Rope Team Rising, exclusively for participants ages 14 to 22. This course is inspired by Lucy Westlake, funded by the efforts of Trailblazers from The Cairn Project, and operated by AWExpeditions.
There are a total of three scholarship spots available for the Rope Team Rising climb.
What do you need to be eligible to apply for this scholarship?
First and foremost, you need a love for the mountains, adventure, and physical activity - you do not need any prior mountaineering experience (that’s what we’ll teach you!), though it’ll be very helpful if you have gone backpacking before. No matter your backpacking experience or lack thereof… what you do need is the confidence that, by the time this course rolls around in July 2025, you’ll be able to carry a 40+ lbs pack with your mountaineering gear from the trailhead to basecamp. If you are 17 or younger, you’ll of course also need your parents’ permission to attend the course.
Also good to know: the 2026 Rope Team Rising Mountaineering course will be accompanied by this coming year’s Adventure Lens Grant recipient - so if you are selected as a Rope Team Rising scholarship recipient, be ready to have a photographer/videographer along as you embark on this adventure with your team! We’ll ask you (or your parents, if you’re not yet 18) to sign a release.
This scholarship includes the expedition fee for an all-girls 4-day instructional climb of Mt Baker (with a night in Seattle before and after the mountain), a $500 travel stipend to help offset the cost of airfare from/to Seattle, top-notch mountaineering footwear from LOWA Boots, a mountaineering backpack from Deuter, high-quality mountaineering attire from Fjällräven, and more. Thanks to the Cairn Project, there are a total of three Rope Team Rising scholarships available for 2026. Each scholarship’s total value is >$4,000.
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Komo Kulshan is one of several native names for Mount Baker, and you’ll often see us use both names interchangeably. Komo Kulshan = Mount Baker = Komo Kulshan!
At 10,781 feet above sea level, Komo Kulshan offers the perfect introduction to mountaineering. It is often considered the best glacier training venue in the US; a true wilderness outing, Rope Team Rising climbing team members will carry gear to camp, spend a full day training, and attempt to summit the mountain via the beautiful Easton or Squak glacier. -
This instructional all-girls mountaineering school and Mount Baker summit climb via the beautiful Easton or Squak glacier is led by AWExpeditions. It will teach you the basics of glacier mountaineering, including proper ice axe use and self-arrest skills, glacier travel, and basic rope techniques while aiming to summit. With a 3:1 climber-to-guide ratio, we offer personal and hands-on training with an experienced guide team. Successful completion of this program gives you the required skills for many more advanced climbs and expeditions. Please note that our Rope Team Rising program is open exclusively to girls and young women ages 14 to 22. Read more about the details of the Rope Team Rising adventure over at AWExpeditions here.
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June 28 - July 3, 2026
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No mountaineering experience is required. Participants must be in very good physical condition. Previous hiking experience is required, and previous backpacking experience is highly recommended. You must be confident in your ability to carry a 45+ lbs pack from the trailhead to basecamp (~5 hours) and 3000 ft of ascent.
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Hotel accommodation pre-and post-climb in Seattle, double occupancy
Airport welcome & drop-off for all scholarship recipients younger than 18
Welcome & final dinners in town
Transfers from Seattle to Mount Baker and return
Professional all-female guide team
Team gear including four-season tents (double occupancy), ropes, snow anchors & team medical kit
On-trail real-time GPS tracking and communications
Top-notch mountaineering footwear from LOWA Boots, a mountaineering pack from Deuter, high quality mountaineering attire from Fjällräven, and trekking poles from LEKI
A $500 travel stipend to help offset travel costs to/from Seattle
Access to substantive discounts for personal gear purchases
The Summit Scholarship award does not cover:
Airfare to & from Seattle beyond the travel stipend
Travel insurance or mandatory rescue insurance
Extra hotel nights in town in case of early departure from the mountain
Beverages and personal expenses
Personal mountaineering gear (sleeping bag / sleeping pad / crampons / axe - rentals are available)
Guide gratuity
Listen to Carly Dykes, a Rope Team Rising alumnae, talk about her Summit Scholarship experience on the See Her Outside podcast
