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Basic Climbing Course - Olympia - 2018

Climbing Course

Basic Alpine Climbing Course

2018 Basic Climbing Course - Olympia. Priority given to students from the Olympia branch for sign up through January 8.

Contacts

Janette Zumbo
Janette Zumbo
Leader

Priority given to students from the Olympia branch for sign up through January 8. If you are in the Olympia Branch please register. Non-Olympia members please wait until after January 8 to sign up or you may be removed from the roster.

The Olympia Basic Climbing Course is a combination of classroom lectures, field instruction and climbing experiences with an emphasis on active, hands-on learning to achieve the goal of teaching students to safely climb rock, snow and the glaciated peaks of the Pacific Northwest.

Lectures and field trips begin in February, and are completed in June, consisting of seven lectures, seven field trips and additional optional climbing events. Topics covered include equipment/gear, backcountry travel and camping, snow camping, glacier travel, belaying, rappelling, rock climbing, crevasse rescue, and more. Previous experience in off-trail hiking and camping is helpful.

Graduates must attend all lectures and field trips, pass the final exam, successfully complete a conditioner, three experience climbs, the Mountain Oriented First Aid course, Navigation course, and a stewardship project. There is a separate course fee for both MOFA and Navigation. The Wilderness Skills course is a prerequisite for Basic Climbing, and is included at no extra charge when students enroll in the climbing course. The Basic climbing chair will register climbing students for Wilderness Skills-do not self-register.  Wilderness Skills is held on January 27th and February 3rd.  Additionally, students must purchase a copy of “Freedom of the Hills, 9th Edition”.

In addition to having a desire to learn technical rock and mountaineering skills, successful graduates possess solid overall physical conditioning, good cardiovascular strength, and psychological commitment. The course is challenging; however, the payoff will be opportunities to connect with lifelong climbing 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 year, and participants are strongly encouraged to complete the lectures and field trips the first year. If a student is unable to complete the course in one year, they may apply for second-year student status, which may incur an additional registration charge. Basic Climbing leaders will create a customized plan that second-year students complete in order to successfully graduate, based on what they were able to finish their first year.
Basic Climbing students are urged to consider taking the Alpine Scrambling course prior to BC. Completion of scrambling allows the student to learn a portion of the skills that will be taught in Basic Climbing, as well as provide even more opportunities to meet like-minded outdoor enthusiasts.

For more information about Basic Climbing, potential students are encouraged to attend the Olympia Branch open house, held on Thursday, January 4th, 2018, from 6:30-8:30 PM at St. Martin’s University in the Worthington Center. In the meantime, direct climbing course questions to Janette Zumbo (janettezumbo@gmail.com).

Badges you will earn:

Course Requirements

This course has no scheduled activities.

Additional badges needed to graduate

Completed

Roster
Required Equipment


Gear List:
Clothing – Required for Field Trips
•    Weather appropriate pants – synthetic pants are great – make sure you have them for winter and summer
•    Weather appropriate jacket or pull over
•    Weather appropriate hat, ear covers – beanies / synthetic baseball type hats / floppy hats for sun
•    Weather appropriate socks – 2 pair – synthetic/wool – liners can be used under socks
•    Gloves – liners – should be synthetic;  
•    Mittens should be water resistant/proof
•    Climbing boots – lug soles appropriate for crampon use
•    (can have a pair of hiking boots, but will need climbing boots for glacier/snow travel – use with crampons)
•    Gaiters – should extend to knee – ankle gaiters are used for summer hiking
•    Rain Gear – jacket & pants
•    Wind-resistant over jacket
•    Heavy puffy – down or synthetic
•    Long underwear – base layer – synthetic or wool
Overnight Gear – Required for Overnight Field Trips
•    Sleeping Bag – insulated or down – should have a 15 degree or lower bag for snow; 15 degree or higher for summer
•    Insulated sleeping Pad – good to have for snow and summer
•    Eating Utensils
•    Food/Snacks – enough for your trip
•    Tent / Bivey – may work with another student in your group to help carry tent
•    Plastic Tarp – suggested/encouraged – not required
•    Stove/Fuel – may share as group gear
•    Cooking Pot – may share as group gear
•    Water Pump – may share as group gear
•    Snow Wands – may share as group gear
•    Snow Shovels – may share as group gear







Gear to have by first Field Trip – see schedule for Basic Skills Field Trip
•    1 large locking oval carabiner
•    2 locking carabiners
•    Six standard  carabiners
•    Leather belay gloves
•    Day pack or large pack
•    UIAA approved climbing helmet
•    Approved climbing harness
•    2 – 18” pre-sewn nylon slings – no dynema
•    2 – 12” pre-sewn nylon slings – no dynema
(can use 1: nylon webbing and tie water knots to use as slings)
If you buy nylon webbing, get enough length to be able to tie your water knots and still have the recommended length of sling.
Example – tying nylon webbing for a 12” sling would require 16”-18” of webbing since you will need to have a tail on the water knot
•    Chest Harness – purchase at least 6’ of 1” nylon webbing in a color different from your slings
•    Texas Prusiks – 18’ of 6cm prusik cord – you will be taught how to tie them at this field trip
•    Prusik cord – 6cm and 5 cm –  you will tie fisherman or grapevine knots for use.
•    Need one length of 6 cm prusik cord at 36” (use with rock ropes)
•    Need one length of 6 cm prusik cord at 24” (use with rock ropes)
•    Need one length of 5 cm prusik cord at 36” (use with glacier ropes)
•    Need one length of 5 cm prusik cord at 24” (use with glacier ropes)
•    Belay / Rappel device – also known as an ATC – no Gri-gris!
•    Insulated sit pad – suggested but not required
Gear to have by second Field Trip – see schedule for Belay Practice Field Trip
Everything from Basic Skills Field Trip 1 PLUS
•    Ice Axe (not ice tools)

Gear to have by third Field Trip – see schedule for Snow Travel Field Trip
Everything from Basic Skills Field Trip 1 and Belay Practice Field Trip 2 PLUS
•    Snow shoes – can rent or purchase
•    Trekking poles – highly encouraged but not required
Gear to have by fourth Field Trip – see schedule for Snow Overnight Field Trip
Everything from Field Trip 1, 2 & 3 – PLUS
•    Crampons – make sure they fit your boots and you have put them on at least twice!
•    Large overnight pack 40L or larger for your gear
•    Plastic Tarp – suggested/encouraged – but not required.  
•    Sleeping Bag – insulated or down – should have a 15 degree or lower bag
•    Insulated sleeping Pad
•    Eating Utensils
•    Food/Snacks – for 2 lunches, one dinner, one breakfast – snacks for carrying
•    Tent / Bivey – may work with another student in your group to help carry tent
Your group leader will send an e-mail to divide group gear. Please be prepared to contribute something to the group.
•    Stoves/Fuel
•    Cooking Pot
•    Water Filter System - Pump
•    Snow Wands
•    Snow Shovels – if you are going to build a snow trench to sleep in, you must have your own shovel.
•    Picket
Gear to have by fifth Field Trip – see schedule for Rock Fundamentals
You should have all of the following gear by now:
•    1 large locking oval carabiner
•    2 locking carabiners
•    Six standard  carabiners
•    Leather belay gloves
•    Day pack or large pack
•    2 – 18” pre-sewn nylon slings – no dynema
•    2 – 12” pre-sewn nylon slings – no dynema
•    Prusik cord – 6cm and 5 cm – you will tie fisherman or grapevine knots for use.
•    Need one length of 6 cm prusik cord at 36” (use with rock ropes)
•    Need one length of 6 cm prusik cord at 24” (use with rock ropes)
•    Need one length of 5 cm prusik cord at 36” (use with glacier ropes)
•    Need one length of 5 cm prusik cord at 24” (use with glacier ropes)
•    UIAA approved climbing helmet
•    Approved climbing harness
•    Belay / Rappel device – also known as an ATC – no Gri-gris!
•    Insulated sit pad – suggested but not required
•    Nut tool – should have one or at least borrow one

Gear to have by sixth Field Trip – see schedule for Rock Weekend – Overnight
You should have all of the following gear by now:
•    1 large locking oval carabiner
•    2 locking carabiners
•    Six standard  carabiners
•    Leather belay gloves
•    Day pack or large pack
•    2 – 18” pre-sewn nylon slings – no dynema
•    2 – 12” pre-sewn nylon slings – no dynema
•    Prusik cord – 6cm and 5 cm –  you will tie fisherman or grapevine knots for use.
•    Need one length of 6 cm prusik cord at 36” (use with rock ropes)
•    Need one length of 6 cm prusik cord at 24” (use with rock ropes)
•    Need one length of 5 cm prusik cord at 36” (use with glacier ropes)
•    Need one length of 5 cm prusik cord at 24” (use with glacier ropes)
•    UIAA approved climbing helmet
•    Approved climbing harness
•    Belay / Rappel device – also known as an ATC – no Gri-gris!
•    Insulated sit pad – suggested but not required
•    Large overnight pack 40L or larger for your gear
•    Plastic Tarp – suggested/encouraged – but not required.
•    Sleeping Bag – insulated or down – should have a 15 degree or lower bag
•    Insulated sleeping Pad
•    Eating Utensils
•    Food/Snacks – for 2 lunches, one dinner, one breakfast – snacks for carrying
•    Tent / Bivey – may work with another student in your group to help carry tent
Your group leader will send an e-mail to divide group gear. Please be prepared to contribute something to the group.
•    Stoves/Fuel
•    Cooking Pot
•    Water Filter system - Pump









Gear to have by seventh Field Trip – see schedule for Crevasse Rescue
You should have all of the following gear by now:
•    1 large locking oval carabiner
•    2 locking carabiners
•    Six standard  carabiners
•    Leather belay gloves
•    Day pack or large pack
•    2 – 18” pre-sewn nylon slings – no dynema
•    2 – 12” pre-sewn nylon slings – no dynema
•    Chest Harness – purchase at least 6’ of 1” nylon webbing in a color different from your slings
•    Texas Prusiks – 18’ of 6cm prusik cord – you will be taught how to tie them at this field trip
•    Prusik cord – 6cm and 5 cm –  you will tie fisherman or grapevine knots for use.
•    Need one length of 6 cm prusik cord at 36” (use with rock ropes)
•    Need one length of 6 cm prusik cord at 24” (use with rock ropes)
•    Need one length of 5 cm prusik cord at 36” (use with glacier ropes)
•    Need one length of 5 cm prusik cord at 24” (use with glacier ropes)
•    UIAA approved climbing helmet
•    Approved climbing harness
•    Belay / Rappel device – also known as an ATC – no Gri-gris!
•    Insulated sit pad – suggested but not required
•    Snow shoes – can rent, borrow or purchase
•    Trekking poles – encouraged but not required
•    Crampons – make sure they fit your boots and you have put them on at least twice!
•    Large overnight pack 40L or larger for your gear
•    Snow Wands

Course Materials

You must register for this course to see course materials.