This Join Us On 9 Days Alpine Rock Climbing Course
This course is divided into three sections which can be taken all-at-once or over three long weekends to work with your schedule.
This nine-day course is designed to teach students with previous outdoor rock climbing experience how to plan and carry-out their own alpine rock climbing trips in complex alpine terrain. Routes climbed during this course may include difficult approaches and descents, glacier travel, steep snow climbing, and climbing fifth-class rock while carrying an overnight pack. The material learned on this course can be applied to classic alpine rock routes the world-over, and builds a solid foundation for fast-and-light climbing on large objectives. This is the hallmark of alpinism.
Part 1: Two-Day Trad Climbing Course with an alpine focus. During this portion of the course we visit a multi-pitch trad climbing destination and practice alpine climbing techniques and transitions to prepare us for the big routes to come. Learn how to build fast and efficient anchors, move together along ridges, transition from glacier travel to fifth-class climbing, pack an alpine pack, haul packs up difficult pitches, climb multi-pitch routes while managing loose rock, and more.
Part 2: Three-day climb of an Intermediate alpine rock objective. The route chosen for these days depends on student climbing ability and experience. Generally the route is in North Cascades National Park, and includes establishing a basecamp high in the mountains, climbing the route the following day while carrying a small summit pack, and returning to the trailhead the following day. Summit days can be long, and require stamina while moving along beautiful rock ridges with views over blue lakes and peaks of the North Cascades. This trip is an excellent opportunity for students to apply what they learned in the first two-days, and learn how to become more efficient and prepared for the more challenging objective to come.
Part 3: Four-day climb of an advanced alpine rock objective. The climb chosen for these four days is generally long enough that it requires carrying an overnight pack while climbing. Students will sleep on ledges along the route and continue climbing the following day. Routes generally have glaciated approaches or descents, and are remote. Due to the complex nature of these routes the first day may be spent learning about trip planning, navigation, and packing, or it may be spent approaching the route. These trips require a large repertoire of physical ability and skill. Students will be challenged, yet rewarded with some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. After completing the course students may wish to pursue more education and apply what they have learned on peaks in Alaska, the Andes, or the Himalayas through our High Altitude Expedition Leadership Course.
Prerequisites for Alpine Rock Climbing Leadership Course:
- Intro to Outdoor Rock Climbing, or similar outdoor rock climbing experience
- Ability to belay a lead climber
- Previous multi-day backpacking experience
- Previous steep snow climbing experience.
- Glacier travel experience preferred, such as that gained on our Mountaineering Skills Course or Glacier Mountaineering Leadership Course.
- If students have lead climbing experience it may be possible to lead portions of the routes we climb.
- Excellent physical fitness, with the ability to carry a 50lb pack up 5,000ft of elevation, climb 5.8 rock with rock climbing shoes, and climb 5.4 while wearing alpine boots and carrying an overnight pack. If students have a higher level of fitness and climbing ability then more challenging objectives may be chosen.
Skills Covered During Alpine Rock Climbing Leadership Course:
- Equipment selection for alpine rock climbing
- Packing for alpine rock routes
- Ultralight bivi and shelter systems
- Route selection and hazard mitigation
- Rope management
- Belay stance management and transitions
- Alpine rock anchors
- Alpine snow anchors
- Techniques for traveling in third, fourth, and fifth class terrain
- Snow to rock transitions
- Managing technical descents
- Trad climbing techniques
- Pack hauling on difficult pitches
- Leave-No-Trace travel and camping techniques
Duration
9 Days 8 Nights CampingGear check
RequiredPassport
Not needed for US citizensMinimum Age
16 years oldActivity
Alpine Rock Climbing and MountaineeringAccommodation
Tents
- Fuel, Pots, and Stoves
- Tents
- Group climbing equipment
- Guide Services
- Transportation
- Parking or entry fees (when applicable)
- Food or drinks
- Accommodation before or after the trip/course
- Personal clothing
- Personal climbing equipment (rentals available)
- Gratuities for guides
