Basic Climbing Course

Registration Time Frame: 

1. Applications accepted: Oct 2nd - Oct 15th. The application period has now closed. 
2. Application results published : October 25th 
3. Successful applicants register : November 6th - December 1st
4. Cancellation : Refund minus $10 by Dec 10th. No refunds after December 10th.

Scholarships: 

We don't want the course fees to be a barrier to entry or participation. If they are, we would encourage you to apply for a scholarship. Scholarship information is kept strictly private and is not shared with course leads or instructors. 

Apply for a scholarship at the time of submitting your application (now), as it takes time to process.   

Is this Course Right for me?

Please read the information on this page and verify that the Basic Alpine Climbing Course is the right course for your objectives and expectations.

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, many of the basic climbing courses at the Mountaineers have seen increased student demand – especially within the Everett Branch. In most years the class fills up very quickly. Class starts in January 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 40 students for 2023) and great student to instructor ratio. In many cases, you’ll see close to a 1-1 student to instructor ratio. Our instructors are very committed to your success and we invest a lot of time to create a positive learning environment. With this level of instructor commitment, we expect a high commitment from you as well.

This course requires a commitment to the following:

1. 7 lectures (4 virtual via Zoom or MS Teams)
2. 6 field trips; 3 of which are overnight, weekend field trips
3. Many extra hours of reading, study and practice
4. Participation in 5 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
10. Day of Trail Service (full day)
11. Navigation course (full day course & online module)
12. Wilderness First Aid & Scenarios (2 ½ day course)

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). Successful completion requires many 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 (i.e.: ability to climb uphill with a 45lb overnight pack for up to 10 to 12 hours two days in a row by the start of June.)

If you seriously consider the necessary commitment and decide that it isn’t possible right now, then please do not apply. You’re welcome to apply in the future when you’re able to make the commitment needed. If you have questions about the class and the necessary commitment, we’re happy to talk and answer all your questions.

Diversity: 

The Everett Climbing Committee is committed to building and fostering a representative climbing community that reflects the spaces in which we live and recreate. We recognize that outdoor recreation has historically excluded communities of color, women, and LGBTQ people. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other underrepresented communities. 

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 Couse, and other advanced climbing seminars periodically offered by the Everett branch. 

If you miss one of the course events (field trip, exam, essentially all the events listed for the course) you will not be able to continue forward in the course and there are no refunds offered. We are unable to hold individual make up sessions for participants due to any reason for missing. This is a progressive course that builds on the skills learned in each session. Attendance is required to demonstrate proficiency for each skill. This course is taught by volunteers who are taking time away from their personal lives (families, hobbies, free time, etcetc.) to help make you successful. It takes a lot of effort to put on every event for the course. We hope you will respect and honor the time put forth by all of our volunteers who make this course possible.   

***Please do not sign up for the course unless you can attend ALL field trips, ALL lectures, and ALL events listed (see activities below).  

Graduation Requirements:

• Attend all field trips, practice sessions, exams, and lectures
• Successful completion of all field trips
• Passing score on skills, tests, and on written exams
• Current Mountaineers membership
• Current WFA Certification (2.5 day course)
• Completion of Mountaineers Navigation Course (full day course & online module)
• Completion of 3 required experience climbs, including at least one glacier and one rock climb by Oct 15th.
• Volunteer for a trail day of service, lasting 8 hours (received Stewardship badge) 
• Petition the Climbing Committee
• Climbing Committee Approval

Course Schedule:

See course activities below for dates and more details of all required activities.