Preparing for a Mazama Climb

Mountaineering takes a multitude of skills to navigate through risks and hardships that come to travel safely and enjoyably in the mountains. Mountaineering can be physically demanding, mentally challenging, psychologically tasking, and unpredictability risky.

Lesson Objectives

After reading this page students should be able to:

Understand and use a climb prospectus
Prepare to be an engaged member of a Mazama Climb
Demonstrate awareness of individual team member responsibilities
Know the differences between Mazama Climb Levels and describe which are appropriate for you ( See: What's After BCEP?)

Mazamas Prospectus

A Prospectus is a document that outlines the details of a Mazamas activity. Many Mazamas programs outside of BCEP will also share a prospectus within the week of your scheduled activity through an email or on your activity description. Mazama leaders prepare and distribute a hike or climb prospectus to share important information such as trail conditions, start time, projected miles, and any required equipment.

View an example of a climb prospectus for Mt. Adams

Prospectuses may change from leader to leader, but all should provide you with a location and the leader contact information. Things to consider:

Weather conditions of climbs are a major factor on whether an activity can be rescheduled. Always do your own research prior to the day of the climb by monitoring weather conditions to bring the ideal gear.
Always have your own copy of your intended mapped route in both print and on your phone in the event that you need to find help for the party.
If you ever have a concern about your prospectus, reach out to your climb leader.
If the directions in the email or prospectus state to reply with a response when you receive the email reply promptly to let the leader know you received the info.

Stages of a Climb

General expectations

Treat climb leaders and teammates with respect
Share any safety concerns with the leaders immediately
Tell the climb leader about relevant medical information
Take responsibility for your own safety and personal needs
Provide honest input at appropriate times
Try to learn something from each climb
Understand that not all climbs are successful (i.e., summits don't always happen)

Preparing for a climb

Read the prospectus carefully
Contact leader with any questions or potential problems
Study the route and have a map of the route
Study and practice the required skills

Start of a climb and pack-in

Arrive at trailhead early
Be ready to depart on time, all clothing and gear ready to go
Volunteer to carry your share of the group gear (rope, stove, etc.)
Keep yourself hydrated, fed, and healthy
Make good use of group breaks to care for personal needs
Be observant of the route and participate in navigation
Speak up if you need a break, especially if it's to address issues that could worsen (blister, etc.)

Base camp

Offer help with camp chores: cooking dinner, melting snow, etc.
Practice Leave No Trace principles

Summit day

Be prepared with all clothing and gear ready to go at climb time
Stay alert to route and conditions
Alert the team to any hazards
Take responsibility for your safety needs - ask for a belay if desired
Eat and hydrate often
Enjoy the view!

Descent

Remember that the descent is the most dangerous part of the climb
Stay with your team
Stay alert and maintain good safety practices

Pack-out and end of climb

Leave a clean campsite
Debrief with the team at the trailhead: pluses, minuses, lessons learned
Drive carefully!
Rest and re-hydrate
Tell stories!

Being a Team Member

Being a Team Member is a crucial part of Mazamas climbs, and there are many factors that make someone a great teammate aside from developing technical skills. Ethics pertain to issues concerning preservation of the rock and the environment itself.

Move Together

Team Hikes are not just about personal conditioning and body regulation. The hikes are a learning experience to practice movement as a team member. Moving together goes beyond walking along a trail. It entails checking in with other teammates, matching and keeping pace, making decisions together, among other things. Interpersonal skills are also a key component to a successful and enjoyable climb.

Stay close to the group.
Give the climber in front of you space by 3-5 paces.
Give the last person time to catch up.
Be mindful of others.
Be someone you would want to climb with.

Prepare ahead of time

Take time to read the prospectus. Ensure that you meet the expectations that are presented as requests of all members of the climb. If you are unable to bring an item, reach out to your climb leader. Download and Print your maps beforehand. Check Weather and Avalanche Forecasts, so you can pack and be informed of what to expect.

Ask questions!

Climbing Code

Share your itinerary with a contact person!
Bring your ten essentials and life saving equipment
Climb with 3 people minimum
Rope up and anchor belays on all exposed places and all glacier travel.
Stay together
Respect your limitations by staying within them
Practice sound judgement when deciding to continue or turn around
Behave in a manner that reflects favorably upon mountaineering, including adherence to Leave No Trace principles.

Leave No Trace

Respect the Land: Leave No Trace

Mazamas members benefit greatly from wilderness—the nearby mountains and outdoor areas that afford us so many recreational opportunities. Enjoying access to these areas is no accident. Mazamas have been involved in conservation efforts from our very beginnings, and we continue to fight for and support a multitude of conservation causes. We have an obligation to future generations of Mazamas to be good stewards—to care for and protect what we have today from those who would do harm or misuse our natural resources. Stewardship is not only an organizational charge to the Mazamas as a group, but also to you as an individual.

Seven Principles of Leave No Trace

1. Plan ahead and prepare.

2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces.

3. Dispose of waste properly.

4. Leave what you find.

5. Minimize campfire impacts.

6. Respect wildlife.

7. Be considerate of other visitors.

For more information on “Leave No Trace” http://www.lnt.org/

Knowledge Check

Please complete the required knowledge check before moving on:

Knowledge Check - Preparing for a Mazama Climb