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Foothills Intermediate Alpine Climbing

Foothills Intermediate Alpine Climbing

The Foothills Intermediate Alpine Climbing is comprised of modules that teach trad rock climbing, snow, ice, and rescue skills. The courses will help you build the necessary skills to safely lead on 5th class rock, steep snow and ice, and the glaciated peaks of the Pacific Northwest.

Find courses 

The Foothills Intermediate Alpine Climbing modules  teaches intermediate climbing techniques and mountaineering skills, including trad rock climbing, intermediate glacier travel, Alpine Ice, and Rescue Skills.

Each module is demanding, but the rewards are great. These skills open the door to a lifetime of outdoor enjoyment. Course graduates are eligible to participate in Intermediate Climbs, Club Climbs, Cragging Trips,  and other advanced climbing seminars periodically offered by the Foothills branch. Additionally, those that complete Trad Rock and Intermediate Glacier Travel can rope lead on Basic Climbs with the Mountaineers

ELIGIBILITY & REGISTRATION

The Modules are open to any Mountaineers member at least 18 years old. Foothills Climbing strives to present a program that is welcoming and inclusive to people from diverse backgrounds, experience levels, and fitness levels, however, we have a limited capacity for our modules and will give preference to Foothills members and those who volunteer their time as Assistant Instructors, Instructors, or Leads with Foothills activities.  Some courses may be taken out of sequence but this is up to the discretion of the course coordinator. Selection of applicants will be at the discretion of the climbing committee.

Mountaineers membership is required for enrollment.

SCHOLARSHIPS

The Mountaineers is committed to making our courses accessible to everyone, regardless of ability to pay. Our courses are priced to cover our costs, but we know that costs add up quickly, especially when students also need to purchase gear.  We encourage students to apply for our scholarship program, which is funded by generous donors to make courses more accessible. Applications may take up to 2 weeks to process and Financial Assistance can not by applied to courses or activities already registered for. You can learn more about and apply for a scholarship, and read about the new Liesl Waldhausen Basic Alpine Climbing Scholarship. 

Read about Skye's experience with scholarships through the Mountaineers here!

PREREQUISITES

Applicants must be graduates of a Basic Alpine Climbing Course, Basic Glacier Travel (for Winter Mountaineering & Advanced Crevasse Rescue), or Basic Equivalency.

Because of our small course sizes and limited permit availability, preference will be given to those that have volunteered with the Mountaineers (especially the Foothills Branch) and have graduated from the Foothills Basic Alpine Climbing Course.

Those that have experience leading on alpine rock or glacier may want to apply for Intermediate Climbing Equivalency through the Everett, Seattle, or Tacoma Branches. Foothills does not currently have an Intermediate Equivalency program.

INTERMEDIATE CLIMBING COURSE Flow

Applications will be accepted in October, with results and registration announced in November.  In the first year, students will only be able to take Leading on Trad (LOT) or Winter Mountaineering and Advanced Crevasse Rescue (WCR) - you will not be allowed to take both through Foothills due to the sizeable course content, climb requirements, and volunteer requirements.

INTERMEDIATE CLIMBING COURSE SCHEDULE

The schedule for our courses is subject to change but usually follows the chronology below.  You can search for our courses using the "LEARN" tab above, and searching for courses offered by Foothills. 

  • January-June: Winter Mountaineering & Advanced Crevasse Rescue
  • February-May:  Leading on Trad  
  • August - September:  Alpine Ice
  • January:  Basic Climbing Course Instructor Review

Intermediate Climbing Modules

Leading on trad

The Leading on Trad Rock modules teach techniques that will enable you to lead climb safely at most of the rock climbing areas around the United States. A solid foundation in anchor system fundamentals will be covered.  You will learn about technical rock climbing equipment including rock shoes, ropes, harnesses, and natural and artificial protection. The techniques you will learn include gear anchors, climbing on rock, leading, multi-pitch transitions, and rappelling. Additionally, students will learn skills to rescue your follower and your leader, including rope ascension, counter balance rappels, and tandem rappels.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Leading on Trad prepares students to safely lead alpine trad routes.

COURSE OUTCOMES:
  • place effective rock protection
  • build rock anchors
  • swap leads mid-pitch in a hanging belay
  • swap leads on multi-pitch routes
  • rescue your follower or leader without outside assistance
Prerequisites
  • Basic Alpine Climbing Course or Equivalency
  • Comfortably and cleanly lead outdoor bolted routes, minimum YDS grade of 5.7 
Volunteering corequisites
  • Attend Basic Climbing Rock 1 AND Rock 2
  • Be a rope lead on at least 1 Basic Rock Climb
  • 1 additional day of volunteering of your choice


Winter Mountaineering and Advanced Crevasse Rescue 

The Winter Mountaineering and Advanced Crevasse Rescue module will introduce you to steeper snow and glacier routes, and provide the skills for planning and executing an intermediate-level glacier climb.  In addition, the course covers the basics of small party (two-person rope team) self-rescue on glacier climbs as well as how to rescue other rope teams.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

WCR prepares students to plan, execute, and lead on climbs.

COURSE OUTCOMES:
  • apply the AIARE decision making framework
  • considerations for winter mountaineering
  • move efficiently and confidently on moderate to steep snow
  • build snow anchors
  • perform rescues of other rope teams
  • perform 2-person crevasse rescue
  • plan and execute glacier climb(s) 
PREREQUISITES
  • Basic Alpine Climbing Course or Basic Glacier Travel or Equivalency
Corequisites
  • Completion of AIARE 1 Recreational
Volunteering corequisites
  • Attend Basic Climbing Snow 1 AND Snow 2
  • Be a rope lead on at least 1 Basic Glacier Climb

ALPINE ICE

The Alpine Ice module will introduce you to ice climbing.  This module provides a structured learning environment to apply lead skills and anchor fundamentals to varied alpine terrain where steep snow and ice may be the obstacle.  This module and the required ice climbs will provide the foundation and confidence to climb intermediate alpine ice routes.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Alpine Ice prepares students to travel safely on moderate to steep alpine ice.

COURSE OUTCOMES
  • evaluate ice conditions
  • move efficiently and confidently
  • place effective protection
  • build ice anchors
  • strategize and adapt leading safely based on terrain
  • swing leads on ice
PREREQUISITES
  • Completion of Winter Mountaineering & Advanced Crevasse Rescue
  • Completion of Leading on Trad

NOTE: Due to the course size and limited permit availability of the Baker-Coleman Seracs, preference will be given to those that have volunteered with the Foothills Climbing Courses.

DryTool Climbing

The Dry Tool Climbing module is an optional course that provides a structured learning environment to learn how to climb dry tool routes

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Dry Tool Course teaches students to climb using ice tools and crampons.

COURSE OUTCOMES
  • move efficiently and confidently
  • Piton placement
  • Leading on Bolted Dry routes
PREREQUISITES
  • Completion of Sport Climbing or Leading on Trad


     Intermediate Climbing Badge

    The Intermediate Climbing Badge is offered to those interested in completing all intermediate courses and requirements. To earn this badge, students must 

    • Complete all required Intermediate Courses (LOT, WCR, Alpine Ice)
    • Rope lead on 6 Basic Climbs, 2 of which are glacier, 2 of which are rock
    • Swing lead on 5 Intermediate Climbs, 2 of which are Ice, 2 of which are rock. At least 1 ice climb must be an alpine ice route
    • Volunteer 14 days. This must include all Basic Instructional Field trips (Fundamentals, Conditioner, Rock 1, Rock 2, Snow 1, Snow 2). The remaining days are your choice and include both instructional and rope leader activities

    Foothills Climbing Home Page Foothills branch home page

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