Alpine Scrambling Equivalency

If you already have the skills to scramble safely, then you don't need to take our Scramble Course – you can skip the course through our “equivalency” process. We love having folks join our community who have gained skills through another local or even distant organizations. We have well qualified members that scrambled or climbed in the Rockies, New England and even Europe. But because of the inherent personal risks of scrambling and the danger to all party members from having an inadequately trained member along on a trip, we have a rigorous process for obtaining equivalency.  If this sounds like the route for you, please contact our Equivalency Coordinator Louise Suhr at ldsuhr@gmail.com. 

PROCESS FOR SEATTLE SCRAMBLE EQUIVALENCY, 2022

To obtain scramble equivalency, the candidate will have adequate skills in the 5 areas detailed below:

• Off-trail travel: provide the scramble equivalency coordinator with a scrambling resume that includes at least five unguided trips with a minimum of 3000’ of gain each and in which at least half of the gain was off-trail.
• Snow travel: resume will demonstrate prior experience in snow travel, focused on ice axe skills (self-arrest and glissade skills).  A skills test will be scheduled to validate these.
• Rock travel: resume will demonstrate prior experience on non-technical rock.   A skills test will be scheduled to validate these, as well as review protected downclimb steps using either a prusik or klemheist knot.
• Navigation: take the Mountaineers Wilderness Navigation course, or be granted navigation equivalency by the Navigation committee.  MUST BE COMPLETED BY JUNE 1, 2022.
• First Aid: take the Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course, the Mountaineering Oriented First Aid (MOFA) course, or be granted first aid equivalency by the First Aid committee.

Process:

1. Prospective candidate seeking equivalency will contact the scramble equivalency coordinator and provide a scrambling resume as detailed above.
2. Coordinator will review the resume and, if approved, schedule equivalency skills test of rock and snow skills.  Note: Date for first six enrollees is Saturday, May 21.  Will aim to schedule a second skills day should enrollment numbers require this.  
3. After successful completion of the skills tests, the prospective applicant will be granted a scramble student badge, which allows them to go on regular season scrambles. Just like any scramble student, they will then have until Nov 1 of the following year to complete: (a) three scrambles (at least one of which is rock and one of which is snow), (b) earn their Stewardship badge, (c) earn their online Low Impact Recreation skill badge, and (d) complete navigation and first aid requirements described above. 
4. Once these are all completed, they should notify the coordinator, who will then convert their scramble student badge to a scramble badge.  A scramble badge allows one to participate in scrambles, winter scrambles and snowshoe trips.
5. Fees: there is a one time $50 fee for the scramble equivalency and includes a protected downclimb kit. This will be charged when signing up for the course.

NOTE: For 2022, we are requiring all participants in both scrambling and scramble equivalency to be fully vaccinated, because of the group nature of scrambles.  A copy of vaccination card should be forwarded to equivalency coordinator upon registration.