Intermediate Climbing  - Tacoma - 2015

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.

The Intermediate Climbing course teaches skills for climbing at the intermediate level (generally up to 5.6 rock, 55-degree snow and ice, and easier mixed). Students will practice snow anchors, belays, emergency shelters; leading on rock, including how to place protection, build and equalize anchors, swing leads and perform self-rescues.

The course teaches various snow and ice skills, including placing ice screws, other ice anchors, German and French technique, and introduces steep (55 degrees) ice climbing. Lectures include expedition planning and high-altitude climbing (up to 20,000 ft), such as for the Mexican volcanoes and Denali. The emphasis is on alpine climbing and all-around rock, ice, and snow technique rather than on developing a high level of technical skill.

Additional course requirements include successful completion of Level 1 AIARE avalanche training (Dec 8th & 10th 2014, or Jan 5th & 7th 2015, or Feb 2nd & 4th 2015), and the Leadership seminar (March 21st).


Intermediate skills can be used on thousands of routes in the Cascades, Sierras, Tetons, Canadian Rockies and other ranges around the world. Skills taught in the course are required to lead technical basic climbs. The course also provides a good foundation for advanced skill development, such as 5.9+ rock, Class 4 ice, difficult mixed climbing and aid climbing.

To enter the course students must complete a two-day qualifier that includes an evaluation of their basic climbing skills and a conditioner. (Jan 24th & 25th)

 

Course Requirements

This course has no scheduled activities.

Additional badges needed to graduate

Completed

Roster
Required Equipment

All equipment required for the basic course, plus:

  1. Wands (can be homemade)
  2. Snow shovel
  3. Guide style belay device
  4. Snow pickets (2)
  5. Climbing rope
  6. Starter rock rack (Nuts, tricams, hexes - cams optional)
  7. More biners (10-15 total)
  8. More slings (3 double, 6-8 single)
  9. Rock shoes
  10. Rap rings (1 or 2)
  11. Ice screws (3-4)
  12. Book: 'Climbing Anchors, 2nd Edition' by Long and Gains
  13. Book: 'Self Rescue, 2nd Edition' by David Fasulo
Course Materials

You must register for this course to see course materials.