Lectures and Field Trip Considerations

Lectures: These are held from 6:00 PM to around 9:00 PM on the scheduled dates. Plan ahead, especially if you're coming from outside the Lacey/Tumwater/Olympia area. Missed lectures cannot be made up, even for traffic delays.

Field Trips: These are full-day events with early starts, and some may require overnight camping. Expect to stay the entire day as end times are not guaranteed. One to two overnight field trips may also be scheduled.

Introduction to Climbing: Lectures 1 and 2; Field trips 1 and 2

Completion of this section allows students to participate in conditioners and some alpine climbs. We cover:

• Climbing equipment, including: harness, helmet, rope, belay devices, and ice axe

• Knots

• Belay techniques, including: sitting hip belay, belaying with a device and Munter hitch, standing carabiner and boot axe belays, communication and voice commands

• Rope management and coiling

• Traveling along a fixed line

• Rappelling is introduced in this section, but taught with more emphasis in the rock section

• Introduction to snow travel, ice axe use, self-arrests, self belay, glissade, and snow anchors

• Kiwi coil

• Anchor evaluation

• Introduction to belay escape (belay escape is a complex skill so we introduce the skill with a visual demo at the first field trip, and have students practice at the second field trip.)

Basic Rock Section: Lecture 3; Field Trips 3 and 4

Completion of this section allows students to participate in conditioners, some alpine climbs, and rock climbs.

• Rock climbing techniques and moving safely on rock

• Rappelling with device

• Knots, anchors, and PBUS belaying

• Anchor evaluation

• Rescue techniques-escaping the belay

• Risk management

Basic Glacier Section: Lecture 4 and 5; Field Trips 5, 6, 7

Completion of this section allows students to participate in conditioners, alpine climbs, and glacier climbs. 

• Self-arrests and snow belays

• Camping on snow

• Alpine starts

• High altitude climbing

• Glacier travel and recognizing hazards

• Crevasse rescue and Z pulley setup

• Mountain Weather

• Avalanche awareness