Winter Mountaineering & Advanced Crevasse Rescue (aka Intermediate Glacier Travel)

UPDATE: The application results are out.

click here for APPLICATION RESULTS AND live STATUS

Click "More +" and read the full description of the course application process, selection criteria, and content before applying for the course.

An informational Seminar for aspiring and current Intermediate Students will be held on Oct 20th, 2025

Application Results: 

Selected applicants will be notified on Nov 3rd. 

REGISTRATION Period:

• Women Affinity Spaces: Nov 3-8th
• Spots for waitlisted students from 2024 and earlier: Nov 8 - 12
• Open for all (about 20+ spots): opens Nov 12

Selection Criteria/NOTES:

Lottery based, as long as the below criteria are met.

• Membership in The Mountaineers
• Technical Skills:
  • Basic Alpine Climbing Course or Basic Glacier Travel Course or equivalency
  • Wilderness First Aid or equivalent
  • Wilderness Navigation or equivalent
  • AIARE Level 1 (must be completed prior to Winter Mountaineering Experience Trip. Not required to be completed at the time of application) 
• Experience: Scrambling and climbing experience (at least 2 basic glacier climbs and at least 1 of each type of snow and rock scrambling)
• Conditioning: Ability to hike Mount Si to the bottom of the haystack in under 2 hours or Mailbox Peak in under 2.5 hours with a 35 lbs pack (30 lbs for people weighing less than 130 lbs) in the Aerobic Zone.
  
• Volunteerism: Volunteers are the heart and soul of our community at The Mountaineers.
  "The Mountaineers rely on skilled and passionate volunteers to pass their love and knowledge of the outdoors on to others. Inspiring others to love and protect the outdoors - and teaching them to do it safely and responsibly - is the heart of our mission and we invite you to be a part of it." 
  
  • Ability to help with the Basic Climbing Courses at glacier/snow-related field trips and with Navigation Courses at in-person workshops & field trips during the course year at a minimum.

Those who were waitlisted for the previous year courses will be given first dibs before the registration opens to the public. 

This course is the pre-requisite course to becoming a rope leader on glacier climbs for The Mountaineers. Student must be graduate from Basic Glacier Travel Course or higher to be a glacier rope lead.
This course also prepares you with the fundamentals of winter glaciated mountaineering trips, safe traveling techniques, systems for 2-person travel, and executing rescues.

Course lectures, Workshop, field trips & experience trips:

Please read the details on the course schedule and format here:
Notes on 2026 Course Format & Schedule

We highly encourage you to be thorough with this before applying. If you have questions, please reach out to us and we would be happy to respond to your questions within 48 hours.

CURRICULUM

• Winter Mountaineering: emergency shelters, snow anchors, belaying, lowering, steep snow, gear management
• Advanced Crevasse Rescue: Higher mechanical advantages and efficiencies (5:1, 6:1, 7:1, 8:1, 9:1) for hauling/raising systems than that taught in the Basic curriculum (2:1 or 3:1)
• Small Party Rescue: Scene Size-up, making and executing a plan, releasable hitches, administering aid
• Glacier Travel: anchors and belaying in firm snow/ice, glacier navigation and terrain selection, trip planning 
• Leadership: leading a rope team on glacier climb, techniques for rope management and moving efficiently, working with basic students and peers
• 2-person glacier travel: Rope setup, traveling techniques, and solo crevasse rescue

This module is one of the 6 Intermediate course modules. To learn more about the intermediate program visit the Seattle Intermediate webpage.