Compressed Alpine Scrambling Course

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.