Your Adventure Starts Here

  • Chip Daily Skis below the Boulder Hut, Washington Alpine Guides, Ian Nicholson IFMGA Mountain Guide

    Build your trip

  • A mountain climber with a green helmet and yellow shirt ascending a rocky, snow-covered mountain ridge near peaks and glaciers, with a blue sky above.

    Climb Forbidden Peak

  • Backcountry Ski the Chugach Mountains, near Thompson Pass, Valdez, Alaska. Ian Nicholson dropping down to the Hoodoo Glacier

    Chugach Mountain Skiing - Valdez

  • Climber ascending a steep and rugged mountain face with snow patches, surrounded by tall peaks and snowy valleys, using a bright green climbing rope and wearing a yellow jacket.

    Seattle Area Alpine Rock

    Vesper Peak

  • Ian Nicholson climbing the Trois Monts route on Mont Blanc in the French Alps near Chamonix

    Climb in the French Alps

  • A person skiing on a snowy mountain slope between towering dark rocky cliffs on a clear day.

    Couloir Skiing

  • Two climbers with backpacks ascending a snowy mountain landscape under a clear blue sky, with rugged peaks in the background.

    Your Adventure starts Here

  • We offer several trips to remote huts, Washington Alpine Guides IFMGA Mountain Guide Ian Nicholson, backcountry ski guide

    Helicopter Accessed Hut Trips

    Fully catered backcountry paradise

  • Our popular Steep ski camps involve learning to manage steep ski terrain as well as belaying and rappelling in a ski context, IFMGA Mountain Guide Ian Nicholson

    Steep Camps

  • Climb Chamonix

  • Want to go out for a half day with the family then there are no one better than us. Washington Alpine Guides, IFMGA Mountain Guide Ian Nicholson

    Family Climbing Days

  • A person wearing an orange helmet and white shirt climbing a rocky mountain with a rope, overlooking a scenic mountain landscape with a lake and green forests.

    Alpine Rock Climbing

  • A person snowboarding on a snowy, icy landscape with snow-covered rocks and pine trees in the background during a snowstorm.

    Powder Skiing

  • Come experience the backcountry with Washington Alpine Guides, IFMGA Mountain Guide Ian Nicholson, Snoqualmie Pass ski touring, backcountry skiing

    Backcountry Ski Touring

  • A person climbing a steep rocky mountain with gear and a helmet, surrounded by nature and trees.

    Seattle Area Alpine Rock

    Morning Start Peak

  • Climbing the Ascentionist 5.10b 7-pitches on the Nevermind Wall at Exit 38. Photo by Ian Nicholson

    Seattle Area multi-pitch rock climbs

  • Climbing the three-pitch 5.7 Zig Zag with views of Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean. Photo by Ian Nicholson

    Ocean view multi-pitch rock

  • A climber in a red jacket and helmet scaling a steep rock face in a mountainous area with rocky peaks, a valley, and a river below.

    Smith Rock Get away

  • A mountain climber wearing a helmet and red jacket ascending a steep cliff with a mountainous landscape and a lake in the background.

    Alpine Rock Climbs

  • Snow-covered rugged mountain peaks under a clear blue sky.

    Get Deep in the North Cascades

  • A person wearing an orange jacket, black pants, and an orange helmet climbing or rappelling on a snowy mountain slope with another person visible further down the slope, surrounded by snow-covered mountains and trees.

    Technical ski objectives

IFMGA Mountain Guide

Ian Nicholson

Ian Nicholson is a highly experienced IFMGA/UIAGM-certified mountain guide, author, climber, and skier, and one of the most respected professional guides in the Pacific Northwest. With more than 17 years of full-time guiding experience, Ian has led climbers and skiers on alpine, rock, ice, and ski-mountaineering objectives throughout Washington State and the North Cascades, as well as Alaska, Canada, South America, and the European Alps.

As a fully certified AMGA Mountain Guide in Rock, Alpine, and Ski disciplines, Ian holds the highest level of professional mountain guiding certification recognized in the United States and internationally. He is also a senior member of the AMGA National Instructor Team, where he trains and evaluates professional mountain guides, and serves as an AIARE National Pro Instructor and Pro Trainer.

While Ian has established remote first ascents in Patagonia, the Alaska Range, and British Columbia’s Waddington Range, the Cascades remain his home mountains and greatest passion. He has established more than a dozen first ascents in the Cascades, including modern classics such as Edge of Time on the Fang and Voie de Chaise on Chair Peak, and has spent thousands of days climbing, skiing, guiding, and exploring throughout the range.

Ian is known for his calm demeanor, patience, and ability to teach and mentor climbers and skiers across a wide range of experience levels. He cares deeply about the client experience and believes great guiding is about more than reaching a summit or completing a route. Every trip is shaped around the client, current mountain conditions, thoughtful risk management, and finding the best experience the mountains have to offer that day.

Through Washington Alpine Guides, Ian offers private guided climbing, mountaineering, backcountry skiing, ski mountaineering, and professional instruction throughout the North Cascades and Washington State. Whether the goal is a classic North Cascades alpine climb, an unforgettable ski objective, or developing the skills for bigger adventures, Ian brings exceptional experience, passion, and professionalism to every day in the mountains.

Contact Ian
IFMGA Mountain Guide Ian Nicholson preforming a shovel tilt test during an AIARE level 2., Washington Alpine Guides

Popular Trips

  • One of Washington Alpine Guide's most popular courses our two 2 steep ski camp is excellent for those looking to push their skills. Here a student is belayed skiing into the Snot Couloir, Snoqualmie mountain, Ian Nicholson Mountain Guide

    Steep Skiing

    Your guide to steep skiing around the Northwest.

    More info
  • Want to experience the backcountry come with IFMGA Mountain Guide Ian Nicholson for an amazing day of backcountry skiing.

    Ski Touring

    Come find the best stashes and the best terrain.

    More info
  • Photo: Day 4 of the Ptarmigan Traverse on the Dana Glacier, Curious about one of the North Cascades Ski Mountaineering Traverses? Come with experienced IFMGA Mountain Guide Ian Nicholson on your next adventure. Washington Alpine Guides

    Ski Mountaineering

    From multi-day ski traverses to technical, glaciated ski descents there is no better way to experience skiing in the big mountains.

    More info
  • The Northwest Ridge of Sharkfin Tower is one of the amazing moderate alpine climbs in Boston Basin, North Cascades National Park, Washington Alpine Guides, Ian Nicholson Mountain Guide

    Alpine Climbing

    Explore the North Cascades incredible summits and glaciers.

    More info
  • A person wearing a helmet and climbing gear is ascending a mountain cliff face using rock climbing equipment.

    Multi-pitch Rock Climbing

    Come explore multi pitch routes all over the states with one of Washington’s most knowledgeable guides.

    More info
  • A man in red winter gear, sunglasses, and a blue headband stands in snow with a snow shovel, cold trees in the background.

    AIARE 1 and 2 Avalanche Courses

    There are few people as excited, passionate, and knowledgeable as Ian when it comes to teaching avalanche courses. Ian has instructed over 100 AIARE 1 and 2 courses and serves on AIARE’s National Pro Instructor team. Simply put there are few people better when it comes to getting your avalanche education.

    More info
  • A person wearing an orange jacket, beige pants, a white helmet, and sunglasses is climbing or crossing on snow and ice with the aid of red ropes and a harness in a mountain setting under a clear blue sky.

    Crevasse Rescue 101 and Refresher Course

    Whether you are new to glacier travel or want to brush up on old skills; taking either of our crevasse rescue refreshers or 101 courses will certainly help prepare and refine your skills for travel in glaciated terrain.

    Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue 101
  • An ice climber dressed in dark clothing, helmet, and sunglasses ascending an icy cliff face using crampons, with a safety rope attached, in a forested mountain area.

    Ice Climbing

    We offer single and multi-day packages to a number of world class waterfall ice climbing venues.

    Contact for more info

  • Custom Guided Rock Climbing

    Whether you are learning to lead, place traditional protection, learn more about your local zones or just get out for some pitches we have the course for you.

    More info
Book Now
A climber ascending the jagged West Ridge of Forbidding Peak, one of the 50 classic climbs of North America with snow-capped mountains in the background and a clear blue sky. Photo by Ian Nicholson

Ready to Build Your Vision?

It all begins with an idea. Whether you are new to the sport or a seasoned veteran, treat yourself to an unforgettable experience.

What Our Clients Say

  • "Ian is literally the best mountain guide on the planet"

    Steve W.

  • Ian's passion and enthusiasm for bringing people into the outdoors is other worldly.

    Michael C.

  • Not everyone finds their calling but Ian certainly found his and that is being a mountain guide. His patients is infinite and knowledge seemingly limitless. There s no one I'd rather lead the way in the mountains.

    Peter G.

  • From technical prowess, to local knowledge, and just the amount of joy he is having taking people out into the mountains. Once you go with Ian it will be hard to go with everyone else

    Graham M.

  • Nate W.

    I've climbed with Ian for almost 10 years, and he always finds the right balance of encouraging me to push my limits while ensuring I always feel safe and comfortable. There's no one I enjoy climbing with more.