Alpine Scrambling Course

Please Review All details before registering

This course is intended to serve residents south of Tacoma. If you live in the Tacoma area and places north, please check your local branch course listing first. If your local course is full, please message the course leader to be added to a wait list. If spots remain open after the Olympia branch open house in January, they will be offered to the wait list.

Course overview

The Alpine Scrambling course teaches essential techniques of off-trail wilderness travel needed for scaling  snow and rock summits. Alpine scrambling may at times involve unroped movement on and across low or moderately-exposed snow and rock terrain, but does not include roped climbing on high-angle, seriously-exposed technical rock faces, nor does it involve roped travel on crevassed glaciers. The course is a combination of classroom lectures, field instruction and scrambling experiences with an emphasis on active, hands-on learning to achieve the goal of teaching students to safely scramble on rock and snow. 

Graduation Requirements

Students must attend all lectures and field trips, and successfully complete physical conditioning requirements, as well as complete three club-sponsored scrambles and obtain all co-requisite badges.

Co-requisite BAdges

1. Stewardship day 1 day volunteering offered separately
2. Wilderness First Aid, or Mountaineer Oriented First Aid. Offered separately
3. Navigation  Offered separately. Olympia Branch Basic Navigation, Sat/Sun, May 2/3
4. Avalanche AwarenessVirtual Seminar Offered separately

Or

In-Person Avalanche Awareness Olympia seminar, Jan 15, 2026 

Optional Wilderness Skills (recommended for those will little outdoor experience)

Physical conditioning

In addition to having a desire to learn about rock and snow scrambling skills, students must have or be able to develop solid overall physical conditioning, good cardiovascular strength, and psychological commitment. The course is challenging; however, it is obtainable by most physically active people. A background in hiking, backpacking or another activity is beneficial.  Prospective students should consider taking the Conditioning Hike Series course prior to Alpine Scrambling if you are new to hiking or if you anticipate significant conditioning challenges. 

Scrambling students are expected to complete a conditioner prior to being cleared to go on your first scramble.   An example of a conditioner would be Mt. Si New Trail one way in about 2.5 hours or less. Please e-mail the course leader if you need help assessing if Scrambling or Conditioning Hike Series is right for you. 

Course Details

The course runs  from February to the middle of May.  Required scrambles should be completed by September 30 for course graduation.  Second year status can be requested if there is an extraordinary circumstance during the course.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE:

Additional Costs

In addition to the course fee, there are additional costs to consider.

• Wilderness Skills - $65 (Leader will provide a $30 discount code)
• Navigation - $100 (leader will provide $25 discount code to students)
• WFA - TBD
• Gear - See required equipment for estimated costs

financial assistance

Please use the Scholarship link to apply for financial assistance, and do this early so you may have your scholarship in time to register.

Please reach out to course leader - Ron Jones -  explorer.ron@gmail.com if you have questions.