Basic Climbing Course

This is a Basic Alpine Mountaineering Course designed to equip graduates with the knowledge and experience they need to be a safe member of a rope team and travel on moderately technical rock or snow and on glaciers. There are no prerequisites, but those interested in the course must apply and be accepted. 

The application period for the 2022 course has closed. We'll review applications in December 2021 and notify applicants of their status later that month.

Vaccination Requirement: To participate in the Bellingham Basic Mountaineering Course, students must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 31, 2021. We'll ask those who are selected for the course for proof of vaccination before opening up registration to them. Learn more about the Mountaineers COVID-19 response.

The Basic Mountaineering Course requires a significant investment of time, energy and money. See the full course schedule. Please do not apply for the course unless you can attend ALL field trips, lectures and evaluations.  

Beyond the scheduled lectures and field trips, students will need to spend time reading and practicing new skills. Solid overall physical conditioning and psychological commitment are needed as alpine travel often involves carrying a heavy pack in difficult, exposed terrain and in all types of weather conditions.

 The course also requires the purchase of several hundred dollars of clothing and equipment, especially for those who do not already have hiking or backpacking gear. Even those who already have some equipment can expect to spend at least $500 or more on gear in addition to the course fee. Not all things need to be purchased right away, however, and some things can be rented or borrowed from friends. We recommend students wait to purchase gear until after the Mountaineering Equipment Lecture.

Financial Assistance: We know that costs add up quickly, especially when students also need to purchase gear.  We encourage students to apply for our scholarship program, which is funded by generous donors to make courses more accessible. Your application for financial assistance must be processed before registering for the course, so it's a good idea to apply now. Learn more and apply for a scholarship.

Cancellation policy: If you cancel your participation in the course before Jan. 1, 2022, you'll receive a refund of the course fee minus $10;  no refunds after Jan. 1, 2022.

The Bellingham Mountaineers are committed to building and fostering a representative climbing community that reflects the spaces in which we live and recreate. We recognize that outdoor recreation has historically excluded communities of color, women and LGBTQ people. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other underrepresented communities.