Alpine Scrambling Course

The Alpine Scrambling course teaches essential techniques of off-trail wilderness travel needed for scaling snow and rock summits. Alpine scrambling may at times involve unroped movement on and across low or moderately-exposed snow and rock terrain, but does not include roped climbing on high-angle, seriously-exposed technical rock faces, nor does it involve roped travel on crevassed glaciers.

The Olympia Alpine Scrambling Course is a combination of classroom lectures, field instruction and scrambling experiences with an emphasis on active, hands-on learning to achieve the goal of teaching students to safely scramble on rock and snow.

Graduates must attend all lectures and field trips, successfully complete physical conditioning requirements, complete three scrambles, a stewardship day, and complete Wilderness First Aid (or MOFA), Wilderness Skills, and Navigation co-requisite courses.  Students will need to obtain a copy of Freedom of the Hills, 10th Edition”.

In addition to having a desire to learn rock and snow scrambling skills, students must have or be able to develop solid overall physical conditioning, good cardiovascular strength, and psychological commitment. The course is challenging; however, the payoff includes opportunities to connect with new scrambling partners and friends as well as life-changing outdoor experiences, while learning the skills that can be used to safely travel in the wild for a lifetime.

The course runs for one season from the end of January to the middle of May.  Required scrambles should be completed by September 30 for course graduation.  Second year status can be requested if there is an extraordinary circumstance during the course.

Prospective students should consider taking the Conditioning Hike Series course prior to Alpine Scrambling if you are new to hiking or if you anticipate significant conditioning challenges.   Scrambling students are expected to complete a conditioner prior to being cleared to go on your first scramble.  There is a conditioning component to the course to help students reach that goal.  An example of a conditioner would be Mt. Si New Trail one way in about 2.5 hours or less  Please e-mail the course leader if you need help assessing if Scrambling or Conditioning Hike Series is right for you. 

Below is the anticipated schedule for the 2025 course.  This schedule includes all co-requisite dates for Olympia.  You can take Navigation and WFA from any branch.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE:

January 7, 2025 -- OPTIONAL - "Cookie Night" - 7 to 8 pm Come meet your scrambling instructors in a relaxed setting.  We'll be at NW Beerwerks in Olympia (420 Steele St SE, Olympia 98501) 

Tuesday, January 28, 2025- Wilderness Skills pre-requisite course - virtual lecture

Saturday, February 1 - Wilderness Skills  pre-requisite course - Field Day

Saturday, February 8 - Basic Skills Lecture and Field Trip (9-3 in person)

February 2025 - TBD - Take one of the free Avalanche Awareness classes

March 2025 (Date TBD) - Wilderness First Aid hybrid - 8 hours of online and 8 hour field day (in person) or Mountaineering Oriented First Aid - MOFA  (March 8, 9, and 15)

Tuesday April 1, Thursday April 3, and Thursday April 10 - Navigation evening lectures

Tuesday  April 8, 2025 - Rock Lecture 6-9pm - in person Olympia

Sunday April 13, 2025 - Rock Field Trip - McCleary Cliffs (near Staircase (9-4)

Tuesday April 15, 2025 - Snow Lecture - 6-9pm - in person Olympia

Saturday April 19, 2025 - Snow Field Trip 1 - 8:30-4 - Paradise

Saturday April 26 or Sunday April 27, 2025 - Navigation Field Trip full day - Kennedy Creek (near Shelton)

Saturday May 10, 2025 - Snow Field Trip 2 - 8:30-4 Paradise

In addition to the course fee, there are additional costs to consider

Wilderness Skills prerequisite - $30 with discount code (leader will provide code to students)

Navigation - $100 (leader will provide $25 discount code to students)

WFA - $175  or MOFA $275

Gear (ice axe, snowshoes, helmet, Microspikes, 10 essentials, protected downclimbing kit - caribeaners, prusik cord, and webbing), boots .  Please do not purchase gear until after the first lecture and field trip on 2/10/25

Please reach out to course leader - Paul Kallmann - Paul.Kallmann@gmail.com if you have any other additional questions.