Basic Climbing Course

What Is It?  Is It For Me?

Basic Climbing involves technical climbing on rock, snow, and ice.  Glaciers are a big part of basic climbing.  Mountaineer trips are one to several days long.  To achieve graduate status, you must reach rock, snow, and glacier summits.  Being a graduate and a member of the Mountaineers grants you the opportunity to sign up for future Kitsap climbs, as well as climbs sponsored by other Mountaineer branches. Prior hiking or backpacking experience is preferred but not required.

What Equipment Do You Need?

Each participant needs a good pack, an ice axe, a helmet, the Ten Essential Systems, a climbing harness, climbing hardware, and a good quality pair of mountaineering boots.  Mountaineering boots are not hiking boots.  Plastic boots may be rented for longer glacier climbs.  Mountaineering boots provide a sturdy, durable, stable platform on which to travel.  Steel crampons are required.  Participants are not required to purchase a rope.  Freedom of the Hills text is required.  Member discount for text.  Overnight field trips require tents and overnight gear.

What Do You Learn?

Learn to prepare for significant mountain climbing.  You learn about good equipment choices.  We teach you navigation and route-finding.  We also teach you proper rock, snow, and ice skills that apply to basic climbing, such as belaying, rappelling, and anchoring.  Avalanche and mountaineering safety are included in the curriculum.  Finally, we teach you how to take care of the fragile alpine environment.

When Does It Start?  How Long Does It Last?  Where Is It?

Basic Climbing starts the first week of January, and lasts through the middle of June.  There are 7 class sessions and 8 field trips.  Field trips are in both the Olympic and Cascade Mountains.  Field trips are usually one day with an a required snow camping overnight.  Class sessions are 6:30 to 9:00pm, and are held at Kitsap Cabin, 7 miles outside Bremerton, on Seabeck Highway.  You may participate in climbs for Basic students upon passing skills assessments.  Yearly extensions may be granted if you keep accumulating mountaineering experience.

How Much Does It Cost?  How Do I Sign Up?  Is There A Class Limit?

The cost for Mountaineer members is $275.  The cost for non-members is $350.  A yearly extension of your student status may be granted and costs $100 per year.  Annual membership in the Mountaineers for an individual is $73.  To sign up, call The Mountaineers or register on-line at www.mountaineers.org.  The class is limited to 30 participants.  Registration closes mid January 2012.  Our excellent volunteer instructors are friendly and experienced Northwest mountaineers.

2013 Class Schedule.  Bring Freedom of the Hills, Ed. 7

Knots, Wilderness Basics, Gear, and Conditioning

• Class session – Wednesday, January 23.  6:30 pm.
• Field trip - Saturday, January 26.  8:00 am.  Green Mt State Forest, Gold Creek Trailhead.  Parking permit required.

Belay and Anchors

• Class session – Wednesday, February 20.  6:30 pm
• Field trip – Saturday, February 23.  8:00 am.  Kitsap Cabin.

Snow Climbing, Avalanche Awareness, Winter Camping

• Class session – Wednesday, March 13.  6:30 pm.
• Field trip – Saturday and Sunday, March 23-24.  9:00 am.  Paradise Park, Mt Rainier National Park.  Permit required.  Overnight field trip.

Rock Climbing

• Class session – Wednesday, April 17.  6:30 pm.
• Field trip #1 – Saturday, April 20.  8:00 am.  Green Mt State Forest, Gold Creek Trailhead.  Parking permit required.
• Field trip #2 – Saturday, May 11.  9:00 am.  Icicle Creek Canyon, Leavenworth, WA.  Optional overnight.  Significant travel time.

Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue

• Class session – Wednesday, May 22.  6:30 pm.
• Field trip – Saturday and Sunday, June 1-2.  8:00 am.  Easton Glacier,  Mt Baker Recreation Area.  Overnight field trip.

Required Texts:

· Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills, current edition

Recommended Texts:

· Climbing Anchors – John Long

· Training for Peak Performance  Clyde Soles

· Conditioning for Outdoor Fitness – Musnick and Pierce

· ABCs of Avalanche Safety – LaChappelle

· Snow Sense – Fredston and Fesler

The clubhouse bookstore is the best resource for these texts.  Mountaineer members receive a 20% discount.  Make sure you are contacting the bookstore not Mountaineer Books.

2013 Class Schedule.  Bring Freedom of the Hills, Ed. 7

Intermediate Skills Review

• Class session – Wednesday, January 9. 6:30 pm.
• Field trip - Saturday, January 12. 8:00 am. Green Mt State Forest, Gold Creek Trailhead. Parking permit required.

Winter Mountaineering

• Class session – Wednesday, February 6. 6:30 pm
• Field trip – Saturday-Sunday, February 9-10. 8:00 am. Hurricane Ridge. Overnight field trip.

Leading on Rock

• Class session – Wednesday, March 6. 6:30 pm.
• Field trip #1 – Saturday, March 9. Mt Erie, Anacortes. 9:00 am
• Field trip #2 – Saturday, April 13. Leavenworth, WA. Optional overnight.  Significant travel time.

Alpine Rescue

• Class session – Wednesday, April 10. 6:30 pm.
• Field trip #1 (Rock) – Saturday, May 4. 8:00 am. Green Mt State Forest, Gold Creek Trailhead. Parking permit required.
• Field trip #2 (Glacier) – Saturday and Sunday, June 1-2. 8:00 am. Easton Glacier, Mt Baker Recreation Area. Overnight field trip.

Climbing Alpine Ice

• Class session – Wednesday, May 15. 6:30 pm.
• Field Trip #1 – Saturday, June 8. Coleman Glacier, Mt Baker Recreation Area.
• Field Trip #2 – Saturday, August 31. (Date may change.) Coleman Glacier, Mt Baker Recreation Area.

Required Text: Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills, current edition

Equipment Notes – Listed equipment will be required as the course develops

• Purchase of standard climbing rope
• Acquisition of various types of rock protection
• Development of carabiner and sling materials
• Acquisition of snow anchors and ice screws
• Rock climbing shoes
• Ice tools

The clubhouse bookstore is the best resource for these texts.  Mountaineer members receive a 20% discount.  Make sure you are contacting the bookstore not Mountaineer Books.

Members and Guests: How to find scheduled activities and sign up online.

Look below on this page for the list of currently scheduled Kitsap Mountaineers climbs and scrambles. Members may view the complete list of currently scheduled Kitsap Mountaineers activities by clicking on the Search Kitsap Mountaineers Activities link. For safety reasons, guests are not allowed to sign up for climbs or scrambles--graduation from appropriate scrambling and climbing courses or equivalency is required to participate in climbs and scrambles. Member online registration for climbing and scrambling activities can be completed by following the instructions once you click on the Search Kitsap Mountaineers Activities link:

Search Kitsap Branch Activities