Other Requirements

Badge Requirements

Low Impact Recreation - Please register to take this online course (free).

Basic Navigation - You can find Mountaineers navigation courses offered by various branches via this link. We may eventually provide a course specifically for Tacoma Basic Students. You must have a current Navigation badge on your Mountaineers profile in order to graduate. For equivalency options see the Mountaineers website.

Stewardship Credit - Check the M's website or WTA for opportunities

Wilderness First Aid - You can find Mountaineers WFA courses offered by various branches via this link. We may eventually provide a course specifically for Tacoma Basic Students.  You must have a current WFA or WFR badge on your Mountaineers profile in order to graduate. For equivalency options see the Mountaineers website.

Conditioner Requirement

You must complete a conditioner hike with the club prior to FT 6 (winter overnight). Several of these with various branches will be posted on the Mountaineers website–check the Activities - Climbing page for opportunities. A conditioner up Mt. Si (to the base of the Haystack) or Mailbox Peak in North Bend will qualify, as will hikes to other destinations so long as the following criteria are met:

• The activity must be titled “Climbing Conditioner” or have that noted in the activity description

• There must be more than 3,000’ elevation gain

• You must hike the ascent with a weighted pack of 30 lbs or more (if you carry water to make up the required weight, you can pour it out for the descent). 

• The requirement is to complete the ascent portion of the Conditioner under a time calculated based on the length and elevation of the hike. The formula for times is: 20min/mile, 20mins/1k ft elevation gain. As an example, Mt. Si, at ~4 miles and 3k elevation, would be 2:20 or less (1:20 for distance plus 1:00 for elevation).

• Some time adjustments may be made by the climbing committee based on trail conditions (e.g. heavy snow on the trail) and if the hike is significantly longer than 4 miles or 3000’ of gain. If you need to rely on a time adjustment in order to qualify, please ask the trip leader for the Conditioner to make a note of the circumstances. 

We cannot stress the importance of conditioning enough. It is vital to be able to move at a steady pace in the mountains for both safety and logistics reasons. Alpine climbs have weather windows, time restrictions, and often cold temperatures that require consistent moving. Most (if not all) students who take this course vastly over-estimate their conditioning ability at the start of the course. Avid hikers will be surprised at the time it takes to climb on snow and steep and uneven terrain.

You should plan to condition weekly with a weighted pack, increasing your weight and elevation gain steadily to prevent injury. CS 2 will cover conditioning and help you put together a plan based on your climbing goals.