Courses for 2010

• Crag Climbing
• Introduction to Rock Climbing
• Sport Climbing

Overview

Rock climbing courses are geared toward different interests and levels of ability. In order to help with selecting which course is right for you we have outlined some of the major differences between different types of climbing.

Top-Roped versus Lead Climbing

In top-roped climbing the climber is tied to a rope which passes through a solid anchor at the top of the climbing route. The top rope protects the climber against falling. In lead climbing, the climber clips the rope through protection points while climbing. Lead climbing requires the ability to climb confidently and safely.

Bolted Climbing vs. Trad Climbing

Bolted or sport climbing routes are routes with permanent man-made hardware allowing the climber to focus almost exclusively on the actual climbing. Traditional or trad. climbing routes do not have permanent hardware and the climber must use natural features such as cracks to place temporary pieces of hardware to protect against falling.

Free Climbing vs. Aid Climbing

In free climbing, the climber's weight is supported exclusively by direct contact between the climber's body and the rock, with the rope and climbing hardware serving only as a backup in case of a fall. In aid climbing, the climber attaches specialized hardware to the route to support body weight and move upward. Crag climbing course offerings do not cover aid climbing but there is a seminar offered by the Mountaineers which does.

Crag Climbing vs. Mountaineering

The Mountaineers also teaches rock climbing as part of its broader, mountaineering-oriented Basic Climbing and Intermediate Climbing courses. The Crag Climbing Course is not a mountaineering course and will not prepare you for a backcountry experience.

Course: Crag Climbing

The Crag Climbing course is designed to teach the skills, knowledge, and techniques needed to safely lead traditional routes on outdoor crags. The course consists of one hands-on skill assessment/review, one gym climbing session, and four weekend field trips. The field trips are located at popular rock climbing areas in Washington. After successfully completing the field trips, students are expected to lead at least two pitches per climb on two or more Mountaineers Crag Climbs offered during the summer climbing season. Possible climbing areas include Exit 38, Mount Erie, Peshastin Pinnacles, Frenchman Coulee, Castle Rock, Royal Columns, Icicle Canyon, City of Rocks, Smith Rocks, Squamish, and Yosemite.

The Crag Course will teach proper use of active and passive protection needed for lead climbing in the crag environment, construction of safe anchor systems for top-rope/leading, swinging leads on mid-5th class (5.4 - 5.8) single and multi-pitch climbs, belaying a partner from multiple directions, rappelling in a variety of settings, and other pertinent skills. The Crag course does not teach alpine travel and navigation techniques, nor is it a beginning climbing class.

Individuals who graduate from the Crag course may be able to apply these skills to other Mountaineers climbing courses; interested individuals should consult with the Administrative branches of the prospective course to determine equivalency.

Instruction Topics

• Selection and use of equipment needed for safe rock climbing
• Climbing techniques and strategies
• Safe anchor construction and top-rope setups
• Placement and efficient use of nuts, hexes and cams

Costs and Schedule

The course fee is $300 for Mountaineers members and $375 for non-members. Equipment costs are your own responsibility, and can range from $200 to $800 or more depending on what you already own and how much you can afford. Obtaining Mountaineering Oriented First Aid (MOFA) certification, if not current, is an additional course and fee, and required for graduation from this course. The gym climbing workshop has a separate fee of approximately $20 payable the night of the workshop.

• Thur Feb 18: Kickoff Meeting
• Sat Mar 13: Skills Review
• Date TBD: Leading Clinic at Vertical World
• Sat Apr 3 or Sun Apr 4: Field Trip 1 at Vantage (only 1 day is required)
• Sat Apr 24 or Sun Apr 25: Field Trip 2 at Leavenworth (only 1 day is required)
• Sat May 15 or Sun May 16: Field Trip 3 at Leavenworth (only 1 day is required)
• Sat May 22 or Sun May 23: Field Trip 4 at Leavenworth (only 1 day is required)

Eligibility

The course is open to anyone over the age of 18 with rock climbing experience. The class is appropriate for Basic Climbing graduates and/or anyone who has had equivalent training and experience in climbing knots, safe belay technique, and rappelling. Applicants are required to be climbing 5.7 or better on top-rope outside, or 5.8 or better inside.

Applicant’s acceptance is also based on:

• Depth of previous rock climbing experience,
• Length of Mountaineers club membership & active participation, and
• Current rock climbing activities.

Course size limit: 25 students

How to Apply

Registration Opens: Dec 1, 2009

Complete the application form and e-mail it to seattlecragcourse@gmail.com or mail it to: The Mountaineers, 7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, ATTN: Crag Course. An application may also be requested by calling the clubhouse at (206) 521-6000.

Once an applicant is accepted into the course, they will need to register for the class and pay the course fee.

Graduation Requirements

• Pass all required field trips, including the skills assessment/review and indoor gym session,
• Hold a current MOFA card,
• Successfully complete three Crag Climbs,at least one of which is done in traditional style, and
• Apply for graduation using the Course Graduation form.

Volunteer to Instruct

If you are a seasoned Crag graduate, seasoned Intermediate student or graduate, or climb leader, we highly value your help instructing at Crag Course Field Trips. Register to at instruct at the Crag Course activities online, by e-mailing seattlecragcourse@gmail.com or by calling the clubhouse at (206) 521-6000.

Questions?

Contact the Crag Course at seattlecragcourse@gmail.com.

Course: Introduction to Rock Climbing

The Introduction to Rock Climbing course is designed for those who have little to no outdoor rock climbing experience. In this course, you will learn the basics of top-rope outdoor climbing. This includes basic climbing knots, belaying skills, climbing technique, and converting to rappel. At the end of the course, you will know the basics for top-rope climbing on your own as well as safely following a lead climber on sport/crag climbs. NOTE: this is a top-rope course only. It does not prepare you for an alpine environment or lead climbing

You may sign-up online ( www.mountaineers.org ) or call The Mountaineers clubhouse at 206-521-6000. Sign-up for the spring course will begin March 1, 2010 and end April 19, 2010. Cost for the course is $150. For questions or information regarding this course please contact Amy Hardie amylh4@hotmail.com or Susan Sayers susanjsayers@gmail.com.

For those women interested in our women's climbing forum you may go to the following website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/women_climbers/. To post a message email, women_climbers@yahoogroups.com.

Course Dates:

Spring 2010 Course:

Lecture: April 21, 7 pm, Mountaineers Building

Vertical World (Seattle) Session: April 28

Field Trip 1: May 8, Mountaineers Building

Field Trip 2: May 22-23, Leavenworth

Fall 2010 Course:

Lecture: August 11, 7pm, Mountaineers Building

Vertical World Session: August 18

Field Trip 1: August 28, Mountaineers Building

Field Trip 2: September 11 & 12, Leavenworth

Number of Students:

15 students will be accepted into each class. Since no prior climbing experience is required and this is an intro class, students will be accepted by their order of signing up for the class. Students who attend the first lecture and decide to discontinue the class will be able to get a refund. However, no refunds will be permitted after the Vertical World session.

Course: Sport Climbing

The Sport Climbing course covers all aspects of climbing single-pitch routes at outdoor sport climbing areas with a focus on climbing technique and conditioning. Technical skills acquired in sport climbing can be applied to all types of climbing adventures, from sport routes to multi-pitch traditional routes and even to ice climbing. Figure out what you need to do to start leading into the 5.10’s and beyond on sport routes. Learn new techniques and improve your physical and mental strength during two months of training towards a target redpoint sport route at Vantage.

Spring 2009 Schedule

• 1/31 kick-off and potluck
• 2/7 training
• 2/14 Stonegardens
• 2/19 Stonegardens
• 2/28 video review
• 3/3 & 4 Vantage Field Trip
• 3/24 & 25 Vantage Field Trip

How to Apply

The course leader's permission is required to register. Contact Sunny Remington (sunny9@u.washington.edu) for details.

Once you have leader's permission, register and pay the course fee online or by calling the clubhouse at (206) 521-6000.