Basic Course

Basic Refresher

 

 

Basic Equivalency

 

 

Intermediate Course

Crag Course

Water Ice Course

Aid & Big Wall Course

Small Party Self-Rescue

Seminars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intermediate Alpine Climbing Course

 

 


Course Description

The Seattle Mountaineers’ Intermediate Alpine Climbing Course presents the techniques necessary to climb the rock, snow, and ice typically found in the Cascade and Olympic mountains of the Pacific Northwest. In addition to climbing techniques, the course emphasizes leadership, safety, and climbing instruction. Course graduates will have the knowledge and skills to organize and lead basic-level climbs and to participate in intermediate-level alpine, rock, and ice climbs. The Intermediate Climbing Course is also offered by the Everett, Kitsap, Olympia, and Tacoma branches of The Mountaineers.

The goals for graduates are to have the skills to:

  1. Swing leads and descend safely on multi-pitch alpine rock on routes rated at least Grade II, 5.5,
  2. Swing leads and descend ice and hard snow safely on alpine routes that are rated at least Grade II and 45 degrees,
  3. Apply rope rescue techniques to safely raise or lower an injured climber with a team of 4-6 people,
  4. Safely complete a winter climb that would be considered basic level in summer conditions, including evaluation of avalanche hazard,
  5. Organize and lead a basic level climb, and
  6. Instruct students in the basic alpine climbing course curriculum.

Prerequisites

  1. Completion of the Mountaineers’ Basic Alpine Climbing Course or Basic Equivalency,
  2. Membership in The Mountaineers, and
  3. Mountaineering Oriented First Aid or Wilderness First Aid or equivalent (should be current or completed by the Int. Rock II field trip in mid-April).

Course Content

The course consists of both classroom and field components. Lectures and field trips begin in early January and extend through September each year. Course content consists of:

  • Five Intermediate Climbing lectures,
  • Eight Intermediate field trips,
  • Level I Avalanche classroom and field work,
  • Instructing or Assisting at seven Basic Alpine Climbing Course events,
  • Rope leading on six Basic climbs (rock and glacier), and
  • Swinging leads on five Intermediate climbs (rock and ice).

Most students take three to five years to complete the course requirements depending upon how much time is devoted each year. The intermediate course is intended to serve as a resource in the broader scheme of ongoing learning and enjoyment of climbing rather than as an end in itself. Students are encouraged to take as much time as is needed to comfortably complete and master each component of the course at their own pace.

2008 Schedule

Lecture Schedule:
Jan. 9, Wed. - Introduction, Teaching and Leadership
Jan. 23, Wed. - Trip Planning, Winter Climbing and Camping
Feb. 6, Wed. - Safety and Rescue Methods
March 2 or 9, Sun. - Rock Climbing at Vertical World, Seattle
Aug 6, Wed. - Alpine Ice Climbing

Avalanche Level 1 Lectures
Jan. 10, Thu.: Technical Analysis
Jan. 15, Tue.: Risk, Human Factors
Jan. 17, Thu.: Search and Rescue

Field Trip Schedule
Jan. 12, Sat. - Intermediate Review (Camp Long, 1st offering)
Jan. 13, Sun. - Intermediate Review (Camp Long, 2nd offering)
Jan. 19, Sat. - Ropes and Anchors (Camp Long, 1st offering)
Jan. 20, Sun. - Ropes and Anchors (Camp Long, 2nd offering)
Feb. 2-3, Sat.-Sun. - Winter Mountaineering (Avalanche Level 1)
Feb. 9-10, Sat.-Sun. - Rescue Methods (Mt. Erie, 1st offering)
Feb. 23-24, Sat.-Sun. - Rescue Methods (Mt. Erie, 2nd offering)
Mar. 22-23, Sat.-Sun. - Intermediate Rock I (Leavenworth, 1st offering)
Mar. 29-30, Sat.-Sun. - Intermediate Rock I (Leavenworth, 2nd offering)
TBD - Intermediate Rock II
Jun. 21-22, Sat.-Sun. - Alpine Ice I (1st offering)
Jul. 12, Sat. - Alpine Ice II (1st offering)

Note that the meeting day for lectures has been changed to Wednesday. Except for the Vertical World sessions, all lectures are at the Mountaineers Clubhouse at 7pm.

How to Register

Registration for the 2008 Intermediate Course is now closed.

Questions, Comments and Suggestions

Please contact the Intermediate Administration Subcommittee: SeattleIntAdmin@mountaineersforums.org (Please use a subject line starting with "Int. Climbing Program:" to prevent your message from being mistaken for spam.)

Continuing Students

Current information for continuing students including graduation requirements and applications can be found in the Intermediate Climbing Course Community.  Please subscribe to receive the latest information.

Intermediate Equivalency

Climbers with extensive alpine rock and ice experience may apply for intermediate equivalency. Contact Phil Kelley, philk@qwest.net for more information.