Climb Safety Policies

Fixed Line Use

Miscellaneous Best Practices

Safety near an exposure

●       When any Mazama Climbing school, or other Mazama instructional activity, occurs where any person will be within a body length of an exposed position or a dangerous cliff edge, where a fall would result in injury or death, it is required that those persons be belayed or be personally connected to an anchor.

●       Climb Leaders, and other activity leaders, have discretion regarding the situation they may find their team while on a climb.

Climbing helmets

Climbing helmets shall be worn by all members of the team: 

●       While climbing 5th-class rock.

●       Any climbing activity with exposure to rock or ice fall.

●       Near a dangerous cliff edge where an unprotected fall would result in injury.

●       Mazamas Climbing School leaders should require students to wear helmets during training activities that simulate those conditions.

●       On a climb, climb leaders have discretion regarding wearing helmets based on the situation they find their team in.

Communication devices

Leaders of Mount Hood climbs must comply with Forest Service requirements by carrying a suitable communication device, which can be a cell phone or a personal locator beacon such as a SPOT.

Winter Equipment Requirements

• Avalanche transceivers shall be worn by all climbers during a Mazama winter climb. Mazamas transceivers are not provided with batteries. Team members using Mazamas transceivers must provide operating batteries. 

• The leader must confirm that the team has one shovel and one probe for every two climbers. The leader may provide Mazamas shovels and avalanche probes to climb team members as needed and as equipment inventory allows.  If there is a shortage of equipment, private equipment will be needed to meet this condition.