2011 Alpine Scrambling Course

Alpine Scrambling Course Chair: Craig Dixon
Alpine Scrambling Course Co-Chair: ?
Alpine Scrambling Course Co-Chair: ?
Climbing Division Chair: ?

The Everett Alpine Scrambling course is a comprehensive course that teaches important aspects of mountain travel including navigation, compass skills, clothing and gear selection, off-trail travel, snow travel, conditioning, ice axe skills, and use of altimeter.

Alpine Scrambling involves off-trail travel to reach non-technical rock and snow summits. It does not involve technical, roped climbing. You can use the skills acquired in this course to reach hundreds of peaks in the Cascades and Olympics. This course will also give you the skills to help you continue on to the technical climbing course if you want more challenge on exposed terrain. The Basic Climbing Course provides the technical aspects one finds with using rope, gear, harnesses, etc.

MOFA (Mountain Oriented First Aid) and Navigation are required for graduation from the class. These classes occur at the same time as the Scrambling class and early registration is recommended to assure you get in.

Enrollment:  Enrollment for the 2011 course is open now and will continue until February 28th, or until the course is full. The minimum age is 16 years old. All applicants younger the 18 will need a pre-application screening by the Committee Chair before they will be accepted into the course. To register visit www.mountaineers.org, Everett Activity ID 20425, or for more information email:
Mike Mashock,  mjmash@comcast.net or
Becky Barr, Mitydiver@comcast.net

Non-members of The Mountaineers may participate in the scrambling course for the non-member fee. To graduate from the course and participate in Club scrambles you must join the Mountaineers. Membership allows participation in the many club activities and most activities are free to members. To join, enroll at www.mountaineers.org or call (206) 521-6001 for membership information.

Course Cost and Refunds:  The cost to members for the course is $160, non-members $195 . There are additional costs for the MOFA course, the scrambling course textbook, Freedom of the Hills 8th edition, membership dues for the Mountaineers, and for the Navigation course. Registration / payment is not required until shortly after Lecture #1, and refunds are available up to this date as well. So if you want, you may attend Lecture #1 prior to registering, at no cost, to determine if the course is right for you. (However, if the course is full at this time we may not be able to accommodate you.).  You may register with a credit card/debit online or by calling the clubhouse at (206) 521-6001. You may mail a check and receive a placement when the check clears. See schedule for the last date that refunds will be made.

Attendance and Makeup. Because the skills learned keep you and your scramble group as safe and as comfortable as possible, attendance at all lectures and field trips is required to complete the course, so plan accordingly. Only one field trip and one lecture may be made up by previous arrangement. Make ups must be taken with another branch and they are often earlier, so plan ahead. Lectures are scheduled from 6:45 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. but may run a bit later.

Location: All evening lectures will be held at the Everett Community College, Whitehorse Hall, Rm 238.

Equipment, Clothing and Costs. Equipment necessary for the course includes a large daypack, sturdy mountaineering boots, an ice axe, synthetic or wool outdoor clothing, rain gear, first-aid kit, compass, and various other items. If you do not already have this equipment, please do not purchase it until after the equipment and clothing lectures. If you have no equipment and clothing, this course will be expensive. Good mountaineering boots, and inexpensive clothing, backpack, and ice axe, will probably cost a minimum of $500; buying quality clothing will increase costs substantially. Some equipment may be rented from various outdoor shops.

Course Textbook. A complete course Syllabus with references and reading materials will be provided to all course participants. In addition reading assignments will be from Freedom of the Hills 8th edition, published by Mountaineers Books. Mountaineer members can get a discount! Order this book on line at www.mountaineersbooks.org. This book is available at bookstores, outdoor stores and The Mountaineers Bookstore in Seattle (800-573-8484).












Mountaineers Classroom

  


Rock Field Trip Navigation Course



Snow Field Trip - Scrambling Cowboy Mountain



Graduation Requirements:
  • Attendance at all 6 scheduled lectures (1 makeup session allowed by special request).
  • Satisfactory completion of all 3 scheduled field trips (makeup opportunities are limited).
  • Satisfactory completion of 3 Mountaineers scrambling trips.
  • Participation in one day of organized trail, lodge, or lookout maintenance.
  • Satisfactory completion of Everett Mountaineering Oriented First Aid (MOFA) course, or other Mountaineering First Aid Course acceptable as Scrambling requirement from another branch of the Mountaineers.
  • Membership in The Mountaineers.
  • All of the above requirements must be completed by date listed in course schedule.
  • Approval by the Everett Mountaineers Alpine Scrambling Committee. Committee approval is based on an evaluation of each student's ability to safely participate in club scrambles as evidenced by their performance at the field trips and on the required three Mountaineers scrambles. Teamwork and cooperation are key safety components.
An extension option is available at no additional Scramble Course fee to complete MOFA and/or to repeat the Scramble Experience Field Trip and do three graduation scrambles during the following calendar season.

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