Basic Climbing Course

*AS A RESULT OF THE SUSPENSION OF ALL COURSES/ACTIVITIES/EVENTS UNTIL 4/24/20, WE WILL BE CANCELING THIS COURSE. CURRENT PARTICIPANTS MAY RECEIVE A pro-rated REFUND OR TAKE THE COURSE NEXT YEAR AT NO EXTRA COST. PLEASE SEE THE COVID-19 RESPONSE PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION*

Registration Time frames:

Applications accepted: Sept 16th - Oct 13th (non-members can apply)
Application results published : October 18th
Successful applicants register : October 18th - October 31st
Cancellation : Refund minus $10 by Dec 1st. No refunds after this.

Commitment:

We, the climbing committee, are glad that you’re applying for the Basic Climbing Class and look forward to instructing and climbing with you this season. In recent years, all of the basic climbing courses at the Mountaineers have gained increased student demand – especially within the Everett Branch. Year over year the class fills up very quickly. Class starts on January 22nd with our first field trip shortly afterwards. So, we want to communicate to all applying students the expectations of the Basic Climbing Class in advance of potential acceptance to the class. Keep this in mind as you complete this application. As instructors, we want ensure that you have the best experience possible where you can learn to climb safely. A big part of accomplishing that goal is your participation and your commitment to the class, your fellow students and the instructors.

One of the many things that the Everett branch offers is a smaller class size (limited to 44 students) and great student to instructor ratio. In many cases, you’ll see close to a 1-1 student to instructor ratio. Our instructors have a huge commitment to you and spend a lot of time and resources to ensure your safety and learning. With this level of instructor commitment, we expect a high commitment from you as well.

This course requires a commitment to the following:

1.  13 classroom lectures
2.  6 field trips; 3 of which are overnight, weekend field trips
3.  Many extra hours of reading, study and practice
4.  Participation in out of classroom skills practice sessions with your fellow students and instructors
5.  Passing a mid-term and final exam that includes written and practical elements
6.  Successful completion of 3 experience climbs
7.  Purchase of climbing gear and possibly basic hiking & backpacking gear
8.  A strong level of fitness that will allow you to safely and effectively participate in the field trips and experience climbs
9.  A personal commitment to a regular & disciplined training program to ensure the necessary fitness level

If you take the above items and lay them out in a calendar, you’ll quickly see that completing this class is a serious endeavor (both time and money). Completion requires hundreds of hours of your time. We want students that can put this in their calendar and commit to everything now. Make a commitment to yourself, your fellow students and the instructors that you’ll be at all the lectures on time, all the field trips and that you’ll practice, study and prepare to be safe and competent on all field trips/climbs.  We would also ask that you start (or continue) a fitness regimen that will enable you to be in satisfactory shape to participate in the fields trips and climbs.

Attendance Requirements:

This is a comprehensive introduction to alpine mountaineering. Graduates will develop the fundamental skills necessary to climb alpine peaks in the northwest. We will cover knots, anchors, belaying, rappelling, rock climbing, glacier travel, the fundamentals of self rescue, and crevasse rescue. This course runs approximately five months meeting weekly with several field trips. Attendance at all lectures and field trips, first aid, navigation and completing experience climbs are required for graduation. Participants should be in good cardiovascular shape and be comfortable with basic camping skills.  Everett offers an intimate learning experience with a high instructor to student ratio. This is perhaps the best reason to select this course.

Although the course is demanding, the rewards are great.  The acquisition of these skills opens the door to a lifetime of outdoor enjoyment.  Course graduates are eligible to participate in Basic Climbs, Club Climbs, the Intermediate Climbing Course, and other advanced climbing seminars periodically offered by the Everett branch.

***Please do not sign up for the course unless you can attend ALL field trips and ALL lectures (missing one lecture due to unforeseen circumstances can be arranged).  

Course Schedule - 2020

• 1/22: Gear Lecture
• 1/29: Knots & Prussiks Lecture
• 2/1: Conditioner Fieldtrip
• 2/5: Anchors & Belaying Lecture
• 2/20: Fundamentals Practice (Seattle MPC)
• 2/22: Fundamentals Fieldtrip
• 3/3: Rappelling & ETO Lecture (Note: Tuesday)
• 3/11: Rock Climbing & Following on Rock Lecture
• 3/14: Rock 1 Fieldtrip
• 4/1: Midterm Exam
• 4/8: Skills Enhancement
• 4/25-26: Rock 2 Fieldtrip
• 5/6: Avy Awareness & Snow Camping Lecture
• 5/9-10: Snow 1 Fieldtrip
• 5/13: Safety Packing and Handling Emergencies Lecture
• 5/20: Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue Lecture
• 6/3: Z-Pulley Practice
• 6/6-7: Snow 2 Fieldtrip

*Lectures will take place at the Summit Everett climbing gym at 2820 Rucker Ave, Everett, WA from 7pm to 9:20pm.

Graduation Requirements

• Attend all field trips and lectures
• Successful completion of all field trips
• Passing score on skills, tests, and on written exams
• Current Mountaineers membership
• Current WFA Certification
• Completion of Mountaineers Navigation Module
• Completion of 3 required experience climbs, including at least one glacier and one rock climb by Oct 1st.
• Petition the Climbing Committee
• Climbing Committee Approval