Grab your gear, and get ready for some excellent climbing opportunities throughout the North Cascades.

The Wilderness Information Center in Marblemount, WA reports that Pyramid Peak, Colonial Peak, and Graybeard Peak offer excellent climbs that are mixed alpine ice and rock, Grade 3 to Grade 4.

If it's later in the season, and you're looking for glacial ice climbs, the Wilderness Information Center advised us that the northeast face of Eldorado Peak, as well as the north face of Mt. Shuksan and Mt. Buckner are places to explore. They stressed though that these are all serious alpine climbs and all require glacial travel to get there. On Mt. Shuksan, the Price Glacier is a prime example.

If you're looking for less serious climbs, consider seracing on Mt. Baker, where you'll find prime climbing opportunities on the lower part of the Coleman Glacier.

On the north side of Mt. Baker, the glacier ice climbs are popular. You'll find these climbs listed in popular mountaineering guides such as the Cascade Alpine Guide, which most people know as the "Becky Guides".

Another great guide are the Selective Climbs to North Cascades, Volumes 1 and 2. Here you'll find information on shorter ice and rock climbs -- which is great if you're new to climbing and not ready to tackle a serious climb.