What are Express Climbs?

Express climbs are short notice climbs arranged by leaders with participants chosen from eligible climbers on the "Express Climbs" list. Qualified members who want to participate put themsleves on the list when they are available, and take themselves off when they commit to a climb. You won’t find these climbs in the Go Guide. They are created when leaders decide to lead climbs on short notice for the upcoming weekend and look to the Express Climbs List for participants. To orgainze such a climb a leader needs enough available climbers to make a party:

      Enough Intermediate Students/Graduates for Rope Leads AND Enough Basic Students/Graduates for a Basic Climb
               -OR-
      Enough Intermediate Students and/or Graduates for an Intermediate Climb

Why have Express Climbs?

Many climbing students tell us that they find the normal signup process difficult and they often can’t get on climbs, especially at the last minute. Many climb leaders have told us that they can’t schedule climbs with the advance notice required to get a climb listed in the Go Guide, or they find that getting replacements for last minute cancellations on scheduled climbs difficult to do. "Express Climbs" are an attempt to provide an alternative to both dilemmas. Leaders contact potential particpants directly by telephone and/or e-mail to make arrangements. This program has been in place for serval seasons and has proved to be quite popular!

How do I signup for the Express Climbs List?

Getting on the list is simple -- post a message to the forum(s) for the week(s) you are available in the *Mountaineers: Climbing: Express Climbs online community. You'll need to be logged into your account before following this link. Please be sure to choose the correct forum(s) and follow the instructions for posting messages to the Express Cimbs list in the news item titled, "Express Climbs List Instructions." One forum exists for each week of the summer with an overlap on Mondays for long weekend climbs.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTES:

1. Make yourself available to be reached. Phone numbers and e-mail should be posted and up-to-date. If you cannot be easily reached, you will be passed over for someone who is.
2. Be sure to cancel your name off the list (delete you post to the appropraite forum) if a leader adds you to their climb’s roster or if you change plans. You waste time for both climb leaders and yourself with telephone calls and e-mails when you are no longer available to climb. Repeated violations of this protocol will lead to removal from the list.