Basic Climbing Course Chair: Mike Rowswell
Climbing Division Chair: Bruce Towhey (360) 426-0904
Course: This course is designed to teach the fundamental skills necessary to safely climb most rock and glaciated peaks in the Pacific Northwest. The course includes instruction and practice in alpine travel, as well as 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, belay and rappel techniques, and crevasse rescue. Throughout the course, students will gain an appreciation of wilderness ethics and conservation.
Modular Format: Olympia’s Basic Climbing Course is organized into four modules. To complete the Basic Climbing Course, a student must complete all four modules, the Mountaineering Oriented First Aid (MOFA) Course, a one day conservation or trail maintenance project, and four basic experience climbs. Graduates of the Basic Climbing Course are eligible to participate in all Mountaineers Basic Experience and Basic Club Climbs. The Basic Climbing Course fee is $175 if paying for all four modules at once or modules can be paid for individually. Fees for individual modules are listed below. There are additional fees and costs for MOFA and the class text “Freedom of the Hills”. Mountaineers membership is required to enroll in the course.
Students also may choose to complete the Wilderness Skills, Introduction to Climbing, and either the Glacier Module or the Rock Module. The fee for taking three modules is $125. This option is good for people who want to learn the basic skills of either glacier or rock climbing and plan to participate on private climbs. Participation on Mountaineer-sponsored climbs, however, will be limited and require leader permission, unless the student completes the entire Basic Climbing Course.
Wilderness Skills Module: See course description listed separately. Equivalency for Wilderness Skills may be granted to experienced hikers, scramblers or climbers who have previously learned this material and can demonstrate these skills. For information about equivalency talk to Jim French, 360-754-6551.
Orientation Night: Find out more about the Modular Basic Climbing Course, and other Olympia Mountaineers activities, including hiking, backpacking, scrambling and kayaking, at Orientation Night on Monday, January 5, at 7:00 p.m., at the Columbian Hall.
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Introduction to Climbing Module
Description: This module introduces students to the equipment and skills that are common to all types of technical climbing at the basic level. This module is also a prerequisite for the Glacier and Rock modules. A variety of belay techniques will be taught and demonstrated, and students will practice them in field trips. Other skills include knots, rope management, fixed line travel, Texas prusik, belay commands and communication. This module introduces students to rappelling and students will complete at least two short rappels. Snow travel is also taught in this module, because climbing in the Pacific Northwest often involves snow. Snow travel skills include safely using an ice ax, self-arrest, snow anchors, snow belays, glissading and avalanche awareness. Students completing this module can participate in basic conditioner climbs sponsored by the Mountaineers and alpine climbs with leader permission.
Prerequisites: Wilderness Skills Module
Basic Climbing: Glacier Module
Description: In this module students are introduced to the basic climbing techniques needed to climb the easier routes on most glaciated peaks. Students will learn about hazards encountered in climbing glaciated peaks, with an emphasis on avalanche awareness and safety. Basic crampon techniques and roped travel on snow and glaciers will be taught and demonstrated. Students will have an opportunity to construct and spend a night in an emergency snow shelter at the Snow Weekend Field Trip on Mt Rainier. Crevasse rescue techniques will be demonstrated and practiced at a workshop, and students will practice these techniques in a simulated crevassed environment at the Glacier Travel Field Trip. This module includes one lecture, one workshop, and two field trips, one of which is overnight. Registration is open only to Mountaineers members. Students completing this module can participate in Mountaineers conditioner climbs, and basic alpine and glacier experience climbs with leader permission.
Prerequisites: Wilderness Skills Module and Introduction to Climbing Module
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Olympia Mountaineer's snow camp field trip at Bullion Basin - April 2007
(photo by Toby Tahja-Syrett)
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Basic Climbing: Rock Module
Description: In this module students are introduced to basic climbing techniques needed for rock face and crack climbing. Use of friction, downpressure, counterforce, undercling, stemming, lyback, and crack jamming needed to climb technical rock routes will be taught and demonstrated. Application of belay techniques to rock climbing will be taught, and rappel techniques will be introduced and practiced. Students will learn how to use a variety of belay and rappel devices commonly used in alpine rock climbing. The principles of safe rappelling will be taught, including three methods of backing up a rappel. All student rock climbing will be top-roped to maximize safety and enjoyment. This module includes one lecture, one workshop and two field trips. Registration is open only to Mountaineers members. Students completing this module can participate in Mountaineers conditioner climbs, and basic alpine and rock experience climbs with leader permission.
Prerequisites: Wilderness Skills Module and Introduction to Climbing Module
Lecture Schedule:
Field Trip Schedule:
| Feb. 21 | Intro to Climbing Workshop: Basic Skills |
| Mar. 8 | Intro to Climbing Field Trip: Belay Skills |
| Mar. 21 | Intro to Climbing Field Trip: Snow I |
| Apr. 18 | Glacier Module Field Trip: Snow Weekend |
| Apr. 28 | Glacier Module Workshop: Z-Pulley |
| May 2 | Glacier Module Field Trip: Glacier Travel |
| May 16 | Rock Module Workshop: Rock Gym |
| May 30 | Rock Module Field Trip: Rock Fundamentals |
| June 13 | Rock Module Field Trip: Rock Weekend |
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Olympia Mountaineers practice rock fundamentals at McCleary cliffs - June 2007
(photo by Toby Tahja-Syrett)
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