Basic Alpine Climbing Course Student

Badge

Basic Alpine Climbing Course Student

This badge represents that someone has enrolled in our Basic Alpine Climbing Course and is in the process of learning its skills.

description of skills

The holder of this badge is enrolled in our Basic Alpine Climbing Course and is in the process of completing its requirements. To successfully complete this course, students must demonstrate proficiency in these skills:

  • The Climbing Code 
  • Equipment and clothing selection, including the ten essential systems 
  • Mountain safety, including identification of hazards such as exposure, rockfall, avalanches, and changing weather; and actions to minimize risk 
  • Use of topographical maps and compass 
  • Rock climbing, including travel on class 2-3 routes, following class 4 and low 5th class routes, and cleaning protection 
  • Snow travel, including step-kicking, plunge stepping, self-belay and self arrest, and crampon use 
  • Snow camping 
  • Climbing knots and hitches and their application
  • Belayed climbing techniques, including construction of simple belay anchors, belaying with a device, belaying with a Münter Hitch, verbal belay commands, and belay tie-off and escape using friction knots 
  • Rappelling using a device and rappelling using a carabiner brake system, including self-belay using an autoblock or prusik knot. 
  • Construction of snow anchors, including using pickets, deadman anchors, and snow bollards
  • Quick belays on snow, such as the carabiner-ice ax belay or boot-ax belay
  • Travel in rope teams on glaciers, including routefinding, team self-arrest, and running belays 
  • through snow anchors 
  • Crevasse rescue techniques, including self-rescue using a friction knot system, direct pull, a 2:1 (single-) pulley system, and a 3:1 (z-) pulley system 
  • Mountaineering Oriented First Aid (Graduation from a MOFA course or equivalency) 
  • “Leave no trace” principles 
  • Emergency preparedness (including emergency bivouacs and how to summon help should it be needed)

What does with badge allow me to do?

How do I get this badge?

Enroll in one of our Basic Alpine Climbing Courses