
Climbing Course
Intermediate Alpine Climbing Program
Take your alpine climbing to the next level while learning to lead on rock and ice as well as improving your self rescue skills.
- Mon, Jan 1, 2024 - Sat, Aug 31, 2024
- Committee: Tacoma Climbing Subcommittee - Intermediate Climbing
- Guests: $50.00
- Availability: 11 (24 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
The Tacoma Intermediate Alpine Climbing Program consists of mountaineering training in alpine environments to help students develop the skills needed to serve as rope leaders on basic climbs and swing leads on routes at the Intermediate level (trad rock routes at 5.6/5.7, and/or ~55-degree snow/alpine ice).
In 2024 the Tacoma Intermediate Program is divided into two tracks or modules that focus on either (1) rock climbing or (2) glacier/alpine climbing. Both modules require a substantial personal commitment (see schedules below). Enrollment is limited to 14 dedicated students per module. The 2024 schedule is reproduced below.
Prerequisites:
1). Member of the Mountaineers
2). 18 years old or older
3). Completion of the Tacoma Program Center Basic Climbing Course or equivalent
4). Pass the qualifier practical exam
5). Pass the qualifier conditioning exam
Fees:
Qualifier exams: $50
Rock module: $360
Glacier/Alpine module: $465
Additional courses required for graduation:
AIARE (required for glacier module): Cost ca. $325
Wilderness First Aid (if not yet completed): Cost ca. $275
Financial aid is available through The Mountaineers. Click on the link below for more information.
https://www.mountaineers.org/membership/scholarship-financial-assistance/scholarship-financial-assistance
Application instructions: Application is free. If accepted into the course, registration payment is due by January 31st, 2024.
Apply through this link by 11/19/2023.
The application process for the Intermediate Alpine Package is open from October 9th to November 20. During this time, the Intermediate Climbing Committee will collect applications. There will be no response during this time - please refrain from inquiring about your status.
After December 1st, the Intermediate Climbing Committee will get together and select applicants for the course qualifier. This process will be finalized by December 15. Applicants accepted into the course will be notified first. If you get notified that you have been accepted into the course you will need to register for the 2024 Intermediate Alpine Climbing course Qualifier - Tacoma. You will need to register for the qualifier and conditioner before December 22nd or you will lose your spot. Any unclaimed spots will be given to the next qualifying candidates. All applicants, including all denied applications, will be informed of their status no later than December 31st. If you are selected into the course, you will be required to register and pay for the respective module by January 29th.
Dates | Activity Name | Notes |
1/20/2024 | Practice and Test | |
1/21/2024 | Conditioner | |
2/6/2024 | Welcome Night | Welcoming, expectations, Q&A |
2/13/2024 | Alpine CS1 | Fundamentals of Glacier Travel & hauling systems |
2/20/2024 | Alpine Practice Clinic | |
2/24/2024 | Alpine FT1 | Managing 3rd class terrain (Club House) |
3/5/2024 | Alpine CS2 | Rope management, anchors, and hauling systems (Club House) |
3/12/2024 | Alpine Practice Clinic 2 | 6:1 practice |
3/16/2024 | Alpine FT2 | Intermediate Winter Overnight |
3/17/2024 | Alpine FT2 | Intermediate Winter Overnight |
4/2/2024 | Rock CS1 | Gear placements, anchors, SP techniques (Clinic) |
4/7/2024 | Managing 3rd\4th Class Terrain | Managing 3rd\4th Class Terrain |
4/9/2024 | Rock Practice Clinic | Anchor building practice |
4/20/2024 | Rock FT1.1 (overnight) | Gear placements, anchors, rappels, SP techniques (Leavenworth - Practice) |
4/21/2024 | Rock FT1.2 | Gear placements, anchors, rappels, SP techniques (Leavenworth - Test) |
4/25/2024 | Rock CS2 | Gear placements, transition anchors, MP techniques (Clinic) |
4/30/2024 | Rock Practice Clinic 2 | Multipitch transitions and anchor practice |
5/4/2024 | Rock FT2.1 (overnight) | Gear placements, transition anchors, MP techniques (Leavenworth - Practice) |
5/5/2024 | Rock FT2.2 | Gear placements, transition anchors, MP techniques (Leavenworth - Test) |
5/7/2024 | Rock CS 3 | Rescue methods fundamentals |
5/14/2024 | Rock Practice Clinic 3 | |
5/25/2024 | Rock FT 3 | Rescue methods fundamentals (Field) |
7/16/2024 | Alpine Practice Clinic | Practice techniques (Mandatory for students that didn't take Rock, will take this opportunity to cover anchors and multi-pitch transitions) |
7/25/2024 | Alpine CS3 (Ice) | Intro to Alpine Ice (Technique Clinic) |
7/30/2024 | Alpine Practice Clinic | Practice Ice techniques (Foam Wall) |
8/10/2024 | Alpine FT3.1 | Intro to hard snow, hauling systems, anchors, and cramponing (Mt Baker Seracs) |
8/11/2024 | Alpine FT3.2 | Intro to hard snow, hauling systems, anchors, and cramponing (Mt Baker Seracs) |
8/6/2024 | Alpine CS4 (Ice) | Intro to Alpine Ice (Crevasse Descent & Hauling Systems) |
8/13/2024 | Alpine Practice Clinic 2 | Optional - Practice single pitch ice climbing and crevasse rescue |
8/17/2024 | Alpine FT4.1 (8 students max) | Intro to alpine ice, anchors, transitions, climbing technique (Crevasse Rescue Practice\test) |
8/18/2024 | Alpine FT4.2 | Intro to alpine ice, anchors, transitions, climbing technique (O'Rock Climb) |
8/24/2024 | Alpine FT2.1 (8 students max) | Intro to alpine ice, anchors, transitions, climbing technique (Crevasse Rescue Practice\test) |
8/25/2024 | Alpine FT2.2 | Intro to alpine ice, anchors, transitions, climbing technique (O'Rock Climb) |
Badges you will earn:
This course has no scheduled activities.
Additional badges needed to graduate
Completed
All equipment required for the basic course, plus:
- Wands (can be homemade)
- Snow shovel
- Guide style belay device
- Snow pickets (2)
- Climbing rope
- Starter rock rack (Nuts, tricams, hexes, cams)
- More carabiners (10-15 total)
- More slings (3 double, 6-8 single)
- Rock shoes
- Rap rings (1 or 2)
- Ice screws (3-4)
- Book: 'Climbing Anchors, 2nd Edition' by Long and Gains
- Book: 'Self Rescue' by David Fasulo
You must register for this course to see course materials.