Everett Branch Basic Alpine Climbing
Everett Branch Home Page
Everett Climbing Home Page
BASIC CLIMBING Course
Our BCC equips you with fundamental climbing skills and experience, using classroom and field instruction. We will teach techniques of roped climbing on rock, snow and glaciers. We concentrate on basic climbing techniques and mountaineering skills, including rope handling, knots, belaying, rappelling, crevasse rescue and safety.
The course is demanding, but the rewards are great. These skills open the door to a lifetime of outdoor enjoyment. Course graduates are eligible to participate in Basic Climbs, Club Climbs, the Intermediate Climbing Course, and other advanced climbing seminars periodically offered by the Everett branch.
PREREQUISITES
Applicants need to be experienced in off-trail hiking and camping. You must make a significant investment in time, energy, psychological preparation, and money. Solid overall physical conditioning and psychological ability to handle vertical exposure is essential. If you lack these basic skills and conditioning, please consider enrolling in the Mountaineers Alpine Scrambling Course before taking the Basic Climbing Course.
EQUIPMENT
Required equipment will cost several hundreds of dollars. Please do not purchase any equipment prior to this course. We provide a complete list of required equipment on the first night of the course. Equipment must be rated for alpine climbing, including proper footwear, clothing, pack, climbing helmet, seat harness, carabiners and related climbing hardware, ice axe, crampons and a variety of other gear. While some equipment can be rented, most equipment will need to be purchased.
Textbook: The Freedom of the Hills, most recent edition. This book is required to study and prepare for lectures and exams.
ELIGIBILITY
The course is open to any Mountaineers member at least 18 years old, regardless of branch affiliation.
REGISTRATION
All applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, during the signup time which is typically late fall. Check here for registration, or contact the BCC Chairs, Jill Thornton and Wes Thornton, for more information. Mountaineers membership is required for enrollment.
See detailed course schedule and graduation requirements on the course page.
Get a glimpse of what our Field Trips look like!
