Olympia Alpine Scrambling Committee
What is Alpine Scrambling?
Alpine scrambling can be considered a bridge between strenuous hiking and technical mountaineering. Scrambling takes the adventurous, off-the-beaten path to summits in the Cascades and Olympics - sometimes on moderately steep rock and snowfields. Scrambling does not include roped climbing or glacier travel.
Alpine Scramble Course
The Olympia Alpine Scramble Course, offered each year between February and June, teaches students how to travel off-trail in both snow and rock, including how to use an ice axe to self-arrest, how to walk in crampons, and key rock scrambling techniques - allowing you to safely reach the many peaks in the Olympics and Cascades. Besides those purely interested in off-trail travel and scrambling, it's a great fit for anyone wanting to progress into the climbing but not sure if they are ready yet.
Trips
Scrambling trips are scheduled for Alpine Scrambling Course students to complete course requirements, and Mountaineers members who are Alpine Scrambling, Basic Alpine Climbing graduates (or equivalents) and Intermediate Alpine Climbing students or graduates.
Check out the current list of summer and winter scrambles!
Additional information
Gear used for Alpine Scrambles is subject to the season, terrain, weather, club standards, and trip leader requirements. Examples include:
- The Ten Essentials
- Helmet
- Mountaineering Boots
- Ice Ax
- Down climb kit (hasty harness, prusik cord, locking carabiner
- Snowshoes
- Microspikes
- Crampons
- Hiking poles
Volunteer
Olympia's Alpine Scrambling Committee welcomes recent and past graduates, and scramble leaders to return to instruct.
