
Scrambling Course
Compressed Alpine Scrambling Course
Alpine Scrambling fills the gap between on trail hiking and roped climbing. In the Alpine Scrambling course you will learn essential techniques of off-trail wilderness travel needed for reaching 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.
- Info
- COVID-19: Learn about our most up-to-date guidance for participants and leaders on our COVID-19 Response page. All participants and leaders must agree to the COVID-19 Code of Conduct before participating in this Mountaineers course.
- Mon, Jan 11, 2021 - Sat, Oct 30, 2021
- Committee: Seattle Alpine Scrambling
- Members: $385.00 Guests: $500.00
- Availability: 12 (12 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
REGISTRATION
With a focus on the safety of our instructors and students, we will be offering the 2021 course in small group format. Each module (noted A,B,C, etc.) will have the same course requirements but will have various dates and destinations. Find the one that works for you!
Note: our capacities are not concrete and will be posted through our course series which will prioritize space for last year's students and open space for new students.
- Monday, January 11th: Registration Opens
- Friday, February 5th: Registration Closes
- Tuesday, February 9th: Course Begins
WHAT IS SCRAMBLING?
Alpine Scrambling is a thrilling Mountaineer's experience serving as a stepping stone between strenuous hiking and technical mountain climbing. In a single day-trip (otherwise known as ‘scramble’) one might take advantage of a conventional trail before traversing an off-trail section of: dense forest, an open meadow of flowers, a steep snow slope, a sheer rocky ridgeline, and finally a serene summit with views extending across the Cascades.
Alpine Scrambling is an introduction to Mountaineering and fills the gap between on-trail hiking and roped climbing. In the Alpine Scrambling course you will learn essential techniques of off-trail wilderness travel needed for reaching 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.
Not sure if Scrambling is for you? Here are some pictures showing the types of places we go: https://photos.app.goo.gl/slX2LfBEHqB0T7FO2
COURSE CONTENT
- Mountaineering Gear and Trip Planning
- Snow Travel: Snow travel safety (avalanche), moving through snow, ice axe use, self-arrest skills and winter navigation
- Rock Travel: Movement on a variety of rock surfaces, unroped climbing techniques, protected downclimb (emergency descent method).
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
- Participate in one Welcome to Scrambling / Gear Workshop (two offerings 2/9/2021 & 2/11/2021)
- Participate in one Conditioning Hike (3/2/2021, 3/18/2021) Tiger Mountain Cable Line 5:30PM
- Participate in Snow Workshop (4/8/2021) Magnuson Park - Kite Hill 6:30PM
- Participate in Snow Field Trip (4/24/2021) Paradise 9AM
- Participate in Rock Workshop (5/6/2021) Mountaineers Seattle Program Center 6:30PM
- Participate in Rock Field Trip (5/15/2021) Dirty Harry's Balcony 8AM
- Participate in Experience Field Trip (TBD)
- Participate in three Mountaineers Club Scrambles (one must be Snow and one must be Rock, the third can be whichever you prefer)
PLEASE NOTE: WE'VE DONE OUR BEST TO OFFER A VARIETY OF OPTIONS FOR VARYING SCHEDULES. PLEASE SEE ALL COURSE LISTINGS AND CHOOSE THE ONE THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOUR SCHEDULE
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
In addition to the required course activities (workshops and field trips) the following badges are REQUIRED to graduate from the Scramble Course. Please note: these are separate Mountaineers activities & courses that you will also need to register for.
- Complete Low Impact Recreation Quiz
- Participate in a Stewardship Activity
- Complete Wilderness Navigation Course*
- Complete Wilderness First Aid Course*
*WILDERNESS NAVIGATION & WILDERNESS FIRST AID ARE SEPARATE COURSES AND CHARGE SEPARATE FEES
- Find Wilderness Navigation Courses, listed here. Badge will be required to earn the Alpine Scramble badge.
- Find Wilderness First Aid Courses, listed here. Badge will be required to earn the Alpine Scramble badge.
Note: these additional courses can be taken through any branch. The requirements to complete each will be coordinated throughout the course as each Committee manages their contingencies for COVID and we have more details, in real-time.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
The Mountaineers strive to serve everyone, regardless of ability to pay. We are committed to providing access to outdoor recreation and education opportunities for all members and youth in the communities we serve. Our courses are priced to cover our costs but we realize the cost incurred through gear and additional course requirements can add up quickly. We encourage you to explore the scholarship program made available by generous donors within our community. More information on financial assistance is available here: https://www.mountaineers.org/membership/scholarship-financial-assistance
EQUIVALENCY
If you already have the skills covered in this course and want to get involved, check out Scrambling Equivalency.
Badges you will earn:
Course Activity | Date | Availability | Leader |
---|---|---|---|
In-town Workshop (optional) | |||
Magnuson Park |
Wed, Apr 21, 2021
Registration closed Mar 8
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Sat, Apr 24, 2021
Registration closed Mar 11
|
3
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Magnuson Park |
Thu, Apr 29, 2021
Registration closed Feb 23
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Magnuson Park |
Sat, May 1, 2021
Registration closed Feb 11
|
1
participant
0 instructors
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Thu, May 6, 2021
Registration closed Feb 20
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Fri, May 7, 2021
Registration closed Feb 24
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Sat, May 8, 2021
Registration closed Mar 10
|
8
participants
1 instructor
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Mon, May 10, 2021
Registration closed Mar 10
|
7
participants
1 instructor
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Mon, May 10, 2021
Registration closed Mar 7
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Tue, May 11, 2021
Registration closes May 9
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Magnuson Park |
Tue, May 11, 2021
Registration closed Feb 23
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Thu, May 13, 2021
Registration closed Feb 28
|
0
participants
1 instructor
|
|
Magnuson Park |
Fri, May 14, 2021
Registration closes May 12
|
1
participant
0 instructors
|
|
Conditioning Hike (optional) | |||
Mount Si Old Trail |
Thu, Apr 22, 2021
Registration closed Feb 11
|
2
participants
0 instructors
|
|
West Tiger Mountain No. 3 Cable Line |
Wed, Apr 28, 2021
Registration closed Feb 11
|
2
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Snow Skills (optional) | |||
Paradise |
Sat, Apr 24, 2021
Registration closed Feb 20
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Snoqualmie Summit Ski Areas |
Sat, Apr 24, 2021
Registration closed Feb 11
|
1
participant
1 instructor
|
|
Paradise Area |
Sat, Apr 24, 2021
Registration closed Feb 11
|
2
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Snoqualmie Mountain |
Sat, Apr 24, 2021
Registration closed Feb 11
|
1
participant
0 instructors
|
|
Source Lake |
Sat, Apr 24, 2021
Registration closed Mar 10
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Alpental Ski Area |
Sat, Apr 24, 2021
Registration closed Mar 7
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Source Lake |
Sun, Apr 25, 2021
Registration closed Mar 10
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Alpental Ski Area |
Sat, May 1, 2021
Registration closed Mar 8
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Paradise |
Sat, May 1, 2021
Registration closed Feb 23
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Stevens Pass Ski Area |
Sun, May 2, 2021
Registration closed Feb 11
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Skyline Ridge & Tye Peak |
Sun, May 9, 2021
Registration closed Feb 11
|
1
participant
0 instructors
|
|
Rock Scrambling (optional) | |||
Dirty Harry's Peak, Balcony & East Balcony |
Sat, Apr 24, 2021
Registration closed Feb 11
|
1
participant
0 instructors
|
|
Sam Hill (Leavenworth) |
Sun, Apr 25, 2021
Registration closed Feb 11
|
4
participants
2 instructors
|
|
Sam Hill (Leavenworth) |
Sat, May 1, 2021
Registration closed Feb 11
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Mount Erie |
Sun, May 2, 2021
Registration closed Feb 11
|
1
participant
1 instructor
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Thu, May 6, 2021
Registration closed Feb 5
|
2
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Little Si/Meditation Rock |
Sat, May 8, 2021
Registration closed Feb 24
|
0
participants
1 instructor
|
|
Seattle Program Center |
Sun, May 9, 2021
Registration closed Feb 24
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Mount Erie |
Sat, May 15, 2021
Registration closed Feb 20
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Mount Erie |
Sat, May 15, 2021
Registration closed Feb 28
|
1
participant
0 instructors
|
|
Dirty Harry's Balcony |
Sat, May 15, 2021
Registration closed Feb 8
|
2
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Mount Erie |
Sat, May 15, 2021
Registration closed Feb 23
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Mount Erie |
Sun, May 16, 2021
Registration closed Mar 8
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Mount Erie |
Sun, May 16, 2021
Registration closes May 14
|
1
participant
0 instructors
|
|
Dirty Harry's Peak, Balcony & East Balcony |
Sat, May 22, 2021
Registration closed Feb 24
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Mount Erie |
Sat, May 22, 2021
Registration closed Mar 10
|
7
participants
1 instructor
|
|
Mount Erie |
Sat, May 22, 2021
Registration closes May 20
|
0
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Mount Erie |
Sun, May 23, 2021
Registration closed Mar 10
|
7
participants
1 instructor
|
|
Ingalls Peak/South Peak |
Sat, Jun 5, 2021
Registration opens May 31; Instructor registration open now
|
8
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Bean Peak |
Sun, Jun 6, 2021
Registration opens May 31; Instructor registration open now
|
8
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Experience Field Trip | |||
Bean Creek Basin |
Sat, Jun 5, 2021
Registration opens May 22
|
6
participants
|
|
Bean Peak & Volcanic Neck |
Sun, Jun 6, 2021
Registration opens May 22
|
6
participants
|
Additional badges needed to graduate
Completed
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT
In addition to the course fees, scrambling requires a substantial amount of gear. In addition to general outdoor gear (outdoor clothing, rain gear, backpack, 10 essentials, etc) there are a few technical pieces of gear required. The majority of the first workshop is dedicated to gear, we encourage you to wait until after the gear workshop to make purchases. These are:
- Mountaineering boots, NOT hiking boots ($300-$500),
- Ice axe ($70-$100), and
- Climbing helmet ($60-$100).
You must register for this course to see course materials.