Scrambling Course
Alpine Scrambling Course
Learn the skills needed to venture off-trail on snow and rock to reach non-technical alpine summits.
- Mon, Mar 9, 2026 - Sat, Oct 31, 2026
- Committee: Foothills Scrambling Committee
- Members: $450.00 Guests: $550.00
- Availability: 13 (16 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
Alpine Scrambling fills the gap between on-trail hiking and roped climbing. The Alpine Scrambling course teaches the skills needed to venture off-trail on snow and rock to reach non-technical alpine summits. Scrambling may at times involve unroped movement on and across low or moderately-exposed snow and rock terrain, but does not include roped climbing.
REGISTRATION TIMELINE:
- Student Registration Opens: Dec 2nd
- Cancellation: Refund less $10 before Feb 9th
- No Refund after Feb 9th
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
The Mountaineers strives to serve everyone, regardless of ability to pay. We are committed to providing access to outdoor recreation, education and conservation opportunities for all members in the communities we serve. More information on financial assistance is available here: https://www.mountaineers.org/membership/scholarship-financial-assistance
graduation requirements:
Students must complete the lecture, skills workshop, snow field trip, rock field trip, experience field trip, and one of the three posted conditioner hikes during the course. All course dates are mandatory except students need only complete one of the three posted conditioner hikes. Students are strongly encouraged to do additional conditioning beyond the posted conditioner hikes on their own or with classmates.
After completing the course field trips, students may sign up for scrambles offered by The Mountaineers through October 31. Students must complete 3 scrambles with The Mountaineers to graduate (at least 1 rock scramble and 1 snow scramble). Once you have graduated, you can sign up for as many scrambles as you would like. Other requirements to graduate include completing The Mountaineers' Wilderness Navigation Course, a Wilderness First Aid Course, completing a one-hour Low Impact Recreation online training, completing a one-hour Avalanche Awareness online training, and completing a day of stewardship (trail maintenance or similar work). Students must sign up for these courses/activities separately from signing up for the Alpine Scrambling course. Students with prior navigation, first aid, or avalanche awareness training/experience may be able to show proof of prior experience or volunteer at a course to demonstrate their prior experience; please contact the course leader to discuss further if you believe this applies to you.
MEMBERSHIP:
While membership in The Mountaineers is not required to graduate the course, we strongly recommend signing up for a membership before you register for this course. Signing up for a membership plus the course at the member rate is less expensive than signing up for the course with the non-member rate, and you will also receive member discounts on co-requisite Mountaineers courses like Navigation and First Aid. Moreover, non-members are only allowed to complete 2 activities before they must join the club to continue doing activities, and in order to graduate, you will need to sign up for at least 3 activities after the course ends.
Badges you will earn:
| Course Activity | Date | Availability | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | |||
| Seattle Program Center |
Mon, Mar 9, 2026
Registration closes Mar 7
|
13
participants
0 instructors
|
|
| Conditioning Hike | |||
| Section Line Trail |
Sat, Mar 21, 2026
Registration closes Mar 19
|
7
participants
1 instructor on waitlist
|
|
| West Tiger Mountain No. 3 Cable Line |
Thu, Apr 2, 2026
Registration closes Mar 31
|
6
participants
0 instructors
|
|
| Mount Washington (Snoqualmie) |
Sun, Apr 19, 2026
Registration closes Apr 17
|
7
participants
|
|
| Scrambling Skills Workshop | |||
| Seattle Program Center |
Fri, Mar 27, 2026
Registration closes Mar 25
|
13
participants
1 instructor
|
|
| Snow Scrambling Field Trip | |||
| Snoqualmie Summit West |
Sun, Apr 12, 2026
Registration closes Apr 10
|
13
participants
1 instructor on waitlist
|
|
| Rock Scrambling Field Trip | |||
| Dirty Harry's Balcony |
Sat, May 9, 2026
Registration closes May 7
|
13
participants
1 instructor
|
|
| Experience Field Trip | |||
| Bean Creek Basin |
Sat, May 23, 2026
Registration closes May 21
|
13
participants
0 instructors
|
|
| End-of-Year Celebration (optional) | |||
| Seattle Program Center |
Wed, Sep 23, 2026
Registration closes Sep 21
|
27
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Additional badges needed to graduate
Completed
- 10 Essentials
- Climbing Helmet
- Ice Axe
- Mountaineering Boots
- Crampons
You must register for this course to see course materials.
Alpine Scrambling Course
Rock Scrambling
Crampon Travel
Snow Travel
Low Impact Recreation
Avalanche Awareness Course
Stewardship Credit
Basic Navigation Course
Wilderness First Aid Course