Basic Climbing Course Chair: Rich Irwin (360) 580-8694
Course: This course is designed to teach the fundamental skills necessary to safely climb most rock and glaciated peaks in the Pacific Northwest with an experienced leader. The course includes instruction and practice in alpine travel and in the technical aspects of roped climbing on rock, snow and glaciers. The course emphasizes basic climbing and mountaineering skills, including navigation, rope handling, knots, crevasse rescue, and belay and rappel techniques. Throughout the course, students will gain an appreciation for wilderness ethics and conservation.
The instructional portion of Olympia’s Basic Climbing Course can be completed in six months, but students who don’t finish in the first year can choose to complete the course in the following year without extra charge. The course is divided into the following sections for administrative purposes: Wilderness Skills, Introduction to Climbing, Rock, Glacier, and Mountaineering Oriented First Aid (MOFA). Students must also complete a conservation or trail maintenance project. After finishing instructional course work, students must successfully complete the following types of experience climbs: conditioner, alpine, rock and glacier. Equivalencies for one or all of the sections can be granted pursuant to strict guideline upon application.
Orientation Night: Find out more about the Basic Climbing Course, and other Olympia Mountaineers activities, including hiking, backpacking, scrambling and kayaking, at Orientation Night on Tuesday, January 10, at 7:00 p.m., at St. Martin's Worthington Center.
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Cost: $250 (includes enrollment in January Wilderness Skills, if necessary)
Wilderness Skills Schedule:
Students who have completed Wilderness Skills in a prior year are not required to attend these lectures.
| Jan. 24 | Lecture 1 | 6:30-9:30 - Knox Center |
| Jan. 28 | Lecture 2 | 8:00-5:00 - Location TBD |
| Feb. 4 | Outdoor Workshop | 8:00-5:00 - Location TBD |
Lecture Schedule:
Field Trip Schedule:
| Feb. 18 | Intro to Climbing Workshop: Basic Skills |
| Mar. 4 | Intro to Climbing Field Trip: Belay Skills |
| Mar. 17 | Intro to Climbing Field Trip: Snow I |
| Apr. 14-15 | Glacier Field Trip: Snow Weekend |
| Apr. 23 | Rock Workshop: Rock Gym |
| Apr. 28 | Rock Field Trip: Rock Fundamentals |
| May 19-20 | Rock Field Trip: This may be an overnight trip depending on class size |
| Jun. 5 | Glacier Workshop: Z-Pulley |
| Jun. 9 | Glacier Field Trip: Crevasse Rescue |
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Olympia Mountaineers practice rock fundamentals at McCleary cliffs
(photo by Toby Tahja-Syrett)
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