Basic Climbing Course

The Tacoma Basic Climbing Course combines classroom lecture, field instruction and climbing experience designed to provide the basic skills necessary to safely climb rock, snow and the glaciated peaks of the Pacific Northwest.  The course is set up to be completed in roughly eight months and covers selection and care of equipment, wilderness travel and camping, glacier travel, belaying, rappelling, rock climbing, crevasse rescue, and many other topics.  During field trips and actual climbs the student will put these skills to practical use with experienced mountaineers.  Previous experience in off-trail hiking and camping is helpful but not mandatory.  Participants should have a desire to learn technical mountaineering skills and be aware that this course requires a significant investment in time, energy, and money. Solid overall physical conditioning, good cardiovascular strength and psychological commitment are needed as the participants will experience travel in difficult terrain with vertical exposure while carrying a heavy pack in all types of weather conditions.  While the course is challenging and demanding the skills acquired provide the participants opportunities to meet lifelong climbing partners and gain the skills to safely enjoy mountains environments for a lifetime.

If you are unsure about whether you meet the course expectations and/or want more information about the course, please attend one of our Information Nights, scheduled for 7:00 pm December 11, 2014 and January 22, 2015 at the Tacoma Mountaineers Program Center, attendance at the information meetings is not required to take the course.

The course fee does not include the cost of membership, text for the course, personal gear and equipment, Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or Navigation course.

Cancellation fees: 

Before course starts cancellation fee is $10.   For cancellations between February 12 and March 3rd, advise course leader via email before March 3rd and the cancellation fee is $75.  After March 3 no refunds will  be made. 

Lecture Schedule*:

• January 31 - Second Year Qualifier (second year students only)
• February 11 - Lecture 1: Course Expectations, Conditioning, Equipment
• March 4 - Lecture 2: Accident Response, Mountain Rescue, Health, Nutrition
• March 25 - Lecture 3: Snow Travel, Avalanche Hazards
• April 8 - Lecture 4: Rock Climbing
• May 6 - Lecture 5: Glacier Travel, Crevasse Rescue
• June 10 - Final exam
• June 24 - Course review
• October 24 - Climbing division potluck
  

Field Trip Schedule*:

• Feb 25th or 26th - FT 1 Prep: Fundamentals, Knots, Prusiking
• Feb 28^th or March 1st  - FT 1: Fundamentals, Knots, Prusik Test, Belaying
• March 15 - FT 2: Belay Test
• March 28 and 29 - FT 3: Winter Overnight
• April 18 or 19 - FT 4: Rock I - Knots, Rock Climbing, Rappelling
• May 16 or 17 - FT 5: Rock II - Rock Climbing, Rappelling
• May 27 or 28 - FT 6 Prep: Crevasse Rescue
• June 6 and 7 - FT 6 and 7: Crevasse Rescue and Hard Snow

*dates are subject to change

Graduation Requirements

• Participants have up to two years to complete the course (there is an administrative fee for returning 2nd yr students).
•  Attend all lectures, field trip preps and field trip
• Pass final examination
• Satisfactorily complete all field trips
• Satisfactorily complete one Conditioner
• Satisfactorily complete three Basic Climbs including one Rock and one Glacier climb
• Successfully complete the Navigation course
• Participate in one day's conservation activity/trailmaintenance offered by the Mountaineers or another recognized organization or agency
• Hold a current Wilderness First Aid (WFA) card by the date of graduation
• Apply for graduation as described in the course manual
• Current Mountaineer membership