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Intermediate Mountaineering Course - Bellingham

Climbing Course

Intermediate Climbing Course

The Bellingham Intermediate Mountaineering Course is a continuation of the Basic Mountaineering Course or for those climbers with equivalent experience. This course focuses on building on your knowledge while emphasizing safety, leadership and climbing instruction.

Contacts

Minda Paul
Minda Paul
Graduate
Tim Schafermeyer
Tim Schafermeyer
Student

Intermediate students will learn techniques such as:

  • Leading on rock or ice
  • Setting protection
  • Building anchors
  • Handling multi-pitch routes
  • Self rescue
  • AND MORE!

Please note this is a multiyear course – some course activities have prerequisites and won’t be completed the first year. View the 2024 Schedule.

Successful completion requires a significant commitment of time and effort. Graduates have the knowledge and skills to organize and lead basic-level climbs and participate in intermediate level climbs.

Now accepting 2024 Applications until November 30th:  Apply Here

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. 

Badges you will earn:

Course Requirements
Course Activity Date Availability Leader
Intermediate Rock 2 (optional)
Squamish
Sat, Jul 20, 2024 -
Sun, Jul 21, 2024
Registration closed Jan 3
3 participants on waitlist
2 instructors
Varun Ramesh
Intermediate Ice 1 & 2 (optional)
Heliotrope Ridge and Lower Coleman Glacier & Seracs
Sat, Aug 10, 2024 -
Sun, Aug 11, 2024
Registration closed Jan 3
7 participants
2 instructors
Krissy Fagan
Intermediate Crevasse Rescue (optional)
Mount Baker Recreation Area
Sat, Aug 24, 2024 -
Sun, Aug 25, 2024
Registration closed Jan 3
0 participants
2 instructors
Alex Dobrinen
Roster
Required Equipment

Rock Gear each student MUST HAVE for Class - 

  1. Helmet, harness, rock shoes
  2. 1 personal anchoring device with a locking carabiner
  3. A belay device with locking belay carabiner
  4. A rack of trad gear with enough draws to use your rack
  5. 3 locking carabiners in addition to the others already mentioned (standard sized)
  6. Small water hydration pack with water pouch and enough room for food and warm layers.
  7. Cordalette
  8. Nut tool and carabiner (does not need to be full size) and a knife

The ideal traditional rack to have for this course includes:

  1. Set of Cams - one cam each matching the following Black Diamond sizes: .3, .4, .5, .75 #1, #2, #3
  2. One carabiner (7 total) for each cam to rake them (these do not need to be full size)
  3. Set of Nuts/stoppers

You will be climbing in groups of 2 when you go out to do your multi pitch routes and will be combining your gear to make one full rack and sharing these items as your climb.  Please make sure to  mark ALL your gear.  A paint pen or nail polish works great for this.  We will be discussing gear and have some brands on hand for your review at the kick-off party.  

Optional Gear you will want to consider:

  1. Ropes will be provided for this course but if you plan to continue climbing after the course you will want to purchase a light weight 60-70m rope.  
  2. Light weight approach shoes.  Many multi pitch climbs have walk-offs so you will need to have a good pair of shoes to hike in and off. You will need to carry these shoes on the climb with you, so the lighter the better. 
  3. Additional set of small Cams. The recommended set of MUST have Cams is meant to cover most bases and not overwhelm your budget. However you will very quickly find that having a set of cams in the smaller range of sizes gives you more options and is much needed so if you can afford to purchase these cams to start with it would be highly advised.
  4. Having some light weight warm layers that can stuff down very small inside of a pack or attached to a harness can be essential.  Sometimes on multi pitch climbs you can end up on Belay stations waiting for a very long time and it can get very cold/hot depending on the weather so you need to be prepared with appropriate clothing options for your safety and comfort.  We'll discuss gear more at the kick off party.
  5. 2 short runners ( 30cmx8mm)
  6. 2 Pearbiners (aka HMS) for master point, belay and rappel
Course Materials

You must register for this course to see course materials.