Everett Scramble Volunteer Opportunities

Describes the path to becoming a course instructor, trip leader, or committee member for Everett Scramble.

Course instructor

To become an instructor for one of our lectures or field trips, the following is required:

  • Be a graduate of the Alpine Scramble Class or Basic Alpine Climbing or equivalency of either
  • Participate in the Field Trip Instructor Orientation (usually held in February)
  • Complete the Foundations of Instruction course

If you are interested in volunteering to be an instructor, please reach out to the committee chair or leadership coordinator to find out more. We welcome scramblers of all experience and ability levels to instruct at our courses.

Trip Leader

To become a trip leader for an alpine scramble, the following is required:

  • Be a graduate of the Alpine Scrambling or Basic Climbing course or have equivalency.
  • Have a current WFA (Wilderness First Aid) certification card, or otherwise demonstrate sufficient competence in first aid to the satisfaction of the Scrambling Committee as determined on a case-by-case basis. 
  • Successfully complete four official rock scrambles and four snow scrambles as a participant. 
  • Participate in instruction of one Alpine Scrambling or Basic Climbing field trip.
  • Complete the Foundations of Leadership course
  • Attend the Everett Scrambling Trip Leader Orientation, or an equivalent Mountaineers leadership seminar (usually in February).
  • Attend the Scramble Leader rope workshop (usually in May or June).
  • Fulfill a role as an Assistant Leader on at least one scrambling trip.
  • Lead at least one official scramble while mentored by an approved scramble leader, and be recommended by the mentor for leadership status.
  • Submit a Trip Leader Application to the Alpine Scrambling Committee, and receive approval from the Committee for qualification.

To become a trip leader for a winter scramble, the following is required in addition to the requirements above for alpine scramble trip leader.

  • Be an experienced Alpine Scrambling leader. Lead four successful non-winter scrambles, with a minimum of two of them being on snow.
  • Complete an AIARE Level 1 avalanche safety course.
  • Successfully complete three official winter scrambles as a participant. Qualifying scrambles should include significant off-trail snow travel and navigation.  
  • Demonstrate to a mentor, both before and during a mentored winter scramble, a strong knowledge of avalanche awareness and avoidance principles, such as how to identify avalanche hazards, select a route and travel safely in avalanche terrain, interpret weather and avalanche forecasts, apply them to a planned trip, evaluate snow conditions on the ground compared to the forecast, track changes in avalanche risk throughout the course of a trip, and how to undertake an avalanche rescue.
  • Lead one official winter scramble while mentored by an approved winter scramble leader, and be recommended by the mentor for winter leadership status.
  • Submit a Trip Leader Application to the Alpine Scrambling Committee, and receive approval from the Committee for qualification.

If you are interested in volunteering to be a trip leader or finding out more, please contact the scramble chair or leadership coordinator.

Committee member

The only formal requirement to becoming a committee member is to be a graduate of either the Alpine Scramble Course or the Basic Alpine Climbing Course or equivalent. This requirement can be waived by the committee. Some committee positions, such as the chair, are elected by the committee. Others are appointed by the chair. 

There are many ways to help the committee - such as by volunteering to organize field trips, planning the course, serving as treasurer, or secretary. Please reach out to the committee chair if you would like to support the scramble committee by volunteering for a committee position.