What is Alpine Scrambling?
Alpine Scrambling bridges the gap between trail hiking and technical climbing. It involves unroped travel across rock and snow with occasional moderate exposure but no roped climbing. It’s ideal for hikers ready to expand skills and confidence. With countless scramble routes in the Cascades and Olympics, many graduates continue scrambling for years or use it as preparation for technical climbing.

Why Choose CASC?
The Compressed Alpine Scrambling Course (CASC) is a focused three‑day weekend combining workshops at the Seattle Program Center and field trips based at The Mountaineers Stevens Pass Lodge (two nights included). This format is perfect for those with limited time and includes:

• Rock Travel: Safe movement on rocky, off‑trail terrain.
• Snow Travel: Ice axe, crampon use, and snowfield movement.

The course concludes with the Seattle Alpine Scrambling Experience Field Trip in June. Class size is limited to 20 students to ensure excellent instructor attention. View photos of 2025 scrambles and classes or photos from previous years.

Course Formats:
Three Seattle‑area options cover the same curriculum with similar student‑to‑instructor ratios:

1. Compressed Alpine Scrambling Course (CASC, this course) – Workshops and field trips condensed into one weekend.
2. Regular Course – February through June, with multiple workshop and field trip dates.
3. Pod-Based Course – Small groups (“pods”) with consistent instructors.

Other branches (Everett, Tacoma, Foothills, Olympia) also offer Scrambling programs. Equivalency is available for experienced scramblers.

Physical Conditioning Requirements:
Scrambling is physically demanding. You should be able to ascend 2,000 feet off‑trail with a weighted pack on consecutive days. As a benchmark: complete the Mt. Si trail (to the bench below the summit rock) in under 2 hours with a pack weighing at least 20 lbs (15% body weight, max 30 lbs). Field trips include self‑arrest practice and steep movement.

CASC TIMELINE

Course instruction combines workshops (introducing skills) and field trips (applying and refining them). With only 20 student spots, dates are limited. Unless noted, all items are required.

Before CASC Weekend

• Student Registration: Opens Dec 1, 2024.
  Cancellation before Feb 15, 2025: Refund minus $10. No refunds after Feb 15.
• Workshop 1 – Course Introduction & Gear Expo: Overview of scrambling and course expectations; extensive gear show‑and‑tell. April 14, 2025
• Workshop 2 (Optional) – Gear Discount Evening: Held at Ascent Outdoors; talk with instructors and get discounts during Boot Week. April 16 or 17
• Field Trip 1 – Conditioner Hike: Skill introduction and strenuous conditioning check. Saturday, April 25th – Tiger Mountain

CASC Weekend (Fri–Sun, May 1-3, 2025)

• Workshop 3 – Rock Travel: Movement skills at the Seattle Program Center, including friction climbing and protected downclimb techniques. May 16, SPC
• Workshop 4 – Dry‑Land Snow Travel: Ice axe skills, balance walking, and self‑arrest practice. Students then travel to Stevens Pass Lodge for the weekend. Lodge lodging + 3 meals included. May 16, SPC → Lodge
• Field Trip 2 – Rock Travel: Real‑terrain practice, including protected downclimbing. May 17, Icicle Creek Road (Leavenworth)
• Field Trip 3 – Snow Travel: On‑snow movement, cramponing, ice axe self‑belay and arrest, and winter navigation. May 18, Stevens Pass Ski Area

After CASC Weekend

• Experience Field Trip 4 – Final Evaluation: Apply all course skills on a summit trip (snow + rock). Choose Sat Jun 6 or Sun Jun 7, 2025

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

To earn the Scrambling Badge, students must complete all CASC activities and the following five activities:

1. Basic Navigation Badge: Complete the Off‑Trail Wilderness Navigation course before June 7, the date of the Experience Field Trip. This is a separate course with its own fees and scheduling. Register for it as soon as possible!
2. Wilderness First Aid Badge: Complete the Wilderness First Aid course. This is a separate course with its own fees and scheduling. Register for it as soon as possible! You may also take an equivalent 16-hour Wilderness First Aid course outside of the Mountaineers, but you must work with the Mountaineers to get the equivalency and the badge on your profile.
3. Stewardship Badge: One full day (8 hours) of stewardship work.
4. Low‑Impact Recreation Badge: Complete the online quiz.
5. Avalanche Awareness Badge: Attend an Avalanche Awareness seminar.

Additional Requirements

• Freedom! Purchase Mountaineering, The Freedom of the Hills, 10th Ed. (2024) and read the assigned 188 pages of complex material as detailed in the Student Scrambling Handbook. This is not a book to skim – the ideas and concepts presented are vital to your success and safety. This is a considerable amount of reading.
• Student Scrambling Handbook: Download and read the Student Scrambling Handbook. The answers to 99% of your questions are there.
• Summits: Complete 3 Mountaineers scrambles beyond course trips: 1 rock, 1 snow, 1 other.

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

Scrambling requires technical gear in addition to standard outdoor equipment. Approximate new prices (20% discounts are available during our Gear Discount Evening and Boot Week):

• Freedom of the Hills, 10th Ed. – $40–$50
• Scrambling boots – $300–$400
• Mountaineering ice axe (not an ice climbing tool) – $75–$125
• Climbing helmet – $60–$150
• Crampons – $140–$200 (borrowing/renting encouraged; limited loaner pairs available)

Much gear can be purchased used. Consider renting, borrowing, or even joining the Mountaineers Gear Library.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

The Mountaineers is committed to making outdoor education accessible. Scholarship and financial assistance information is available at:
https://www.mountaineers.org/membership/scholarship-financial-assistance