• The Mountaineers
  • Mountaineers Books
  • Log in / Join
  • Donate
  • Logo The
    Mountaineers
  • Donate
  • Log in / Join
  • Activities
    • Find Activities
    • Activity Overviews
    • Find Routes & Places
    • View Trip Reports
    • Lodge Reservations
    • Upcoming Events
    • Youth Programs
    • Schedule & Manage
  • Courses
    • Find Courses, Clinics & Seminars
    • Virtual Education Center
    • Course Overviews
    • Course Calendar
    • Badges
    • Find Instructor Opportunities
    • How To
  • Conservation
    • Education
    • Stewardship
    • Advocacy
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer With Us
    • Schedule & Manage
    • Leader Resources
    • Branches & Committees
  • Youth
    • Programs by Location
    • Programs by Age Group & Type
    • Summer Camp
    • Family Programs
    • Partner Programs
    • Volunteer with Youth
    • Resources & FAQs
  • Membership
    • Join The Mountaineers
    • Getting Started
    • Benefits
    • Gear Library
    • Give a Gift Membership
    • Scholarships
    • Badges
  • Locations & Lodges
    • Bellingham Branch
    • Everett Branch
    • Foothills Branch
    • Kitsap Branch
    • Olympia Branch
    • Seattle Branch
    • Tacoma Branch
    • Seattle Program Center
    • Seattle Program Center Bookstore
    • Tacoma Program Center
    • Baker Lodge
    • Meany Lodge
    • Stevens Lodge
    • Irish Cabin Property
    • Kitsap Forest Theater
  • Events
    • Virtual Events & Activities
    • Bellingham Branch
    • Everett Branch
    • Foothills Branch
    • Kitsap Branch
    • Olympia Branch
    • Seattle Branch
    • Seattle Program Center
    • Mountaineers Books
    • Tacoma Branch
    • Tacoma Program Center
  • Blog
    • Most Recent
    • Books
    • Conservation & Advocacy
    • Courses & Activities
    • History
    • How To
    • Mountaineer Magazine
    • News & Events
    • People
    • Safety Stories
  • About
    • History
    • Vision & Leadership
    • Land Acknowledgment
    • Staff
    • Employment
    • Safety
    • The Mountaineers Foundation
    • Contact Us
    • Mountaineers Books

      Changing lives since 1960.

      Shop
  • Logo
    Mountaineers
    Books
  • Donate
  • Log in / Join
  • Books & Maps
    *Books & Maps* by Subject
    • Adventure & Biography
    • Biking
    • Climbing
    • Conservation (Braided River)
    • First Aid & Safety
    • Fitness
    • Green Trails Maps
    • Hiking & Backpacking
    • History
    • Lifestyle (Skipstone)
    • Maps
    • Marine Sports
    • Nature
    • Outdoor Leadership
    • Partner Publishers
    • Photography
    • Snow Sports
    • Travel
    *Special* Book Lists
    • New Releases
    • Best Sellers
    • Top 10 Climbing
    • Top 10 Hiking
    • Top 10 Biking
    • Top 10 Winter
    • Award Winners
    • Editors' Picks
    • Coming Soon
    • Family Friendly
    • Course Textbooks
    • Women Authors
    • Staff Picks
    • Women in the Wild
    • Gear & Apparel
  • Mission
    • 1% for Trails—Outdoor Nonprofits in Partnership
    • Barbara Savage Memorial Award
  • Authors
    • Meet Our Fall 2023 Authors
    • Events & Web Series
    • Blog
    • Videos
    • Facebook
    • Editors' Picks
  • About
    • Our Partners
    • Bookseller Info
    • Request a Catalog
    • Press Inquiries
    • Submissions
    • Staff
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
  • Gear & Apparel
    • Get outside with us!

      The Mountaineers teaches skills and leads outdoor activities for all ages and levels in the Pacific Northwest.

      Learn More
You are here:
  1. Home
  2. Locations & Lodges
  3. Tacoma Branch
  4. Committees
  5. Tacoma Branch Climbing Program
  6. Tacoma Basic Alpine Climbing
  7. Basic Climbing Course - Tacoma
  8. Course Materials
  9. Lecture 1
Share this Page: Facebook Twitter Email
Navigation
  • Bellingham Branch
  • Everett Branch
  • Foothills Branch
  • Kitsap Branch
  • Olympia Branch
  • Seattle Branch
  • Tacoma Branch
    • Courses & Activities
    • Events
    • Blog
    • Committees
      • Tacoma Alpine Scrambling Program
      • Tacoma Branch Climbing Program
        • Tacoma Climbing Subcommittee - Wilderness First Aid
        • Tacoma Basic Alpine Climbing
          • Blank Student Forms
          • Field Trip Leader Folder
          • Course Templates
            • Basic Climbing Course - Tacoma
              • Course Materials
                • Basic Climbing Course - 2018/2019 Supplemental Site
                  • 2019 Course Page
                  • Lecture 1
                  • Field Trip Prep 1 and Field Trip 1
                  • Lecture 2
                  • Field Trip 2
                  • Lecture 3
                  • L4, FT4 P, FT 4, FT5
                  • Course Manual Sections
                  • Other Forms
                  • Course Materials
      • Tacoma Communities
      • Tacoma Conservation & Stewardship Committee
      • Tacoma Hiking & Backpacking Committee
      • Tacoma Leadership Committee
      • Tacoma Navigation Committee
      • Tacoma Photography Committee
      • Tacoma Sailing Committee
      • Tacoma Branch Safety Committee
      • Tacoma Branch Sea Kayaking Program
      • Tacoma Backcountry Tour Committee
      • Tacoma Cross-country Skiing Committee
      • Tacoma Snowshoeing Committee
      • Tacoma Trail Running Committee
      • Tacoma Youth Programs
      • Tacoma Bikepacking Committee
    • Award Badges
  • Seattle Program Center
  • Seattle Program Center Bookstore
  • Tacoma Program Center
  • Baker Lodge
  • Meany Lodge
  • Stevens Lodge
  • Irish Cabin Property
  • Kitsap Forest Theater
Lecture 1

Lecture 1

Material Covered:

The first lecture includes an introduction to the course, important equipment considerations, and a discussion about conditioning and training goals. Please scroll to the bottom of the page to access the L1 quiz (available by Friday, 2/9), and take the quiz as soon as you can within one week after it is posted.

Handouts, Resources, and Other Materials:

Training Goals Worksheet

Course Introduction Slides (Powerpoint)

Knots:

Knot-tying is an inherent part of roped climbing, and you and your partner’s safety depend on your ability to tie appropriate knots correctly, and to recognize correctly tied knots. The following knots are required for the Basic Rock & Glacier Climbing Course.

  • Girth hitch
  • Water knot (another example)
  • Figure 8 loop (Figure 8 on a bight)
  • Rewoven Figure 8 (Figure 8 Follow Through)
  • Single Bowline (bowline)
  • Double Fisherman’s knot (Double Fisherman’s bend; Grapevine knot)
  • Prusik hitch (knot)
  • Clove hitch (one-handed example! efficiency)
  • Münter hitch
  • Bowline on a coil
  • Alpine Butterfly
  • Bachmann knot
  • Mule knots: device mule, Münter mule
  • Flat Overhand Knot (aka EDK)
  • Autoblock wrap (not tested until rappelling FT)

You will be tested on all the above knots at field trips. You will need to pass the knot test by the end of FT 3 prior to participating in FT 4. You will be expected to tie all of these knots under the close scrutiny of your instructor on all field trips. Your knots will be inspected for good dressing. You will also need to be able to tell how and why each of the knots is used.

Visit AnimatedKnots.com for picture walkthroughs of each of the knots. Additionally, you can click or tap on each of the knot names in the list to be taken to a YouTube video demonstrating how to tie and dress that knot.

Gear:

Slides from Scott's gear and clothing lecture can be found here.

The matrix following this list identifies equipment that will be needed at each field trip. THESE ARE GUIDELINES ONLY! ADDITIONAL MODIFICATIONS TO THIS LIST MAY BE MADE IN CLASS. If renting, be sure to reserve items ahead of time.

FOR FIELD TRIP 1 PREP: Have your webbing and perlon (accessory cord) cut at the store when you buy it. It is a good idea to use different colored webbing for different sized slings (different length slings, personal anchor, chest harness). The different colors allow you to easily recognize the length and what the sling is used for. See the FTP 1 tab for more information.

Where Should I Buy Gear?

There are LOTS of resources to pick up gear at new, used, and reduced prices. Here are some good options:

  • Backcountry: great selection of equipment, frequent sales, discount for Mountaineers members
  • MooseJaw: frequent discounts, membership points program
  • REI: no description needed! Your member dividend is going to be ridiculous the year after this course ends. Generous return policy.
  • Goodwill: often has a surprising variety of woolen goods on the cheap. A long-sleeve wool shirt is a long-sleeve wool shirt, regardless of whether it's made by an outdoor company or not.
  • Local consignment shops: Playback Sports in Tacoma can yield some gems!
  • AscentOutdoors (formerly Second Ascent): great Seattle shop with new and used climbing and outdoors goods
  • Feathered Friends: another strong Seattle Shop. Focus is on high quality down apparel, but they have some excellent accessory cord/perlon (Edelweiss brand) that is hard to find elsewhere, and other good climbing selections.
  • Mountaineers Gear Swaps: check local branches for dates! Tacoma gear swap is coming up this Spring!

Cheap, or Lightweight?

The chart below is adapted from a gear essay by Bruce Sanchez. Please note that these are not to be construed as suggestions on what gear to buy; the chart is simply intended to illustrate the difference that many small decisions can make. Ounces make pounds!

Overnight rock climb sample loadouts:

overnight rock climb.png

Conditioning:

Here is the slideshow that Allison shared with us during L1. She also talked a little about TrainingPeaks, a resource which helps you track your training goals and log workouts. She also recommended the training plans available at Uphill Athlete, which provide (for a fee) training templates for specific goals. (See this link for Ama Dablam training story from Himalayan hardcore Records Chair Carrie Kavanaugh!)

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE QUIZ (Surveygizmo)

Please use the same name for each of the five quizzes. This will let us associate the right quiz with the right person!

List Icon Contents
  • 2019 Course Page
  • Lecture 1
  • Field Trip Prep 1 and Field Trip 1
  • Lecture 2
  • Field Trip 2
  • Lecture 3
  • L4, FT4 P, FT 4, FT5
  • Course Manual Sections
  • Other Forms
  • Course Materials
Share this Page: Facebook Twitter Email

The Mountaineers

Helping people explore, conserve, learn about, and enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Feedback
  • Mountaineer Magazine
  • Employment

Mountaineers Books

An independent nonprofit publisher

  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Bookseller Info
  • Press Inquiries
  • Employment

Connect with the Mountaineers Community

Connect with the Mountaineers Books Community

YouTube

The Mountaineers®, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID: 27-3009280.

Mountaineers Books is a registered trademark of The Mountaineers®, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID: 27-3009280.

Design: Neal Maher
Development by Percolator & Jazkarta. Powered by Plone.