Basic Mountaineering Skills Introduction.  No previous mountaineering experience is required.

This is being offered as a series of sessions: an evening session, a day trip, and two overnight trips.  Spacing the training out over several weekends will allow time to absorb information and complete any assigned homework/reading.  The day trip will be offered twice to accommodate participants who do not wish to participate in the full course schedule.

Note: dates subject to change due to conditions.

Prerequisites: a good level of fitness; for those progressing to weekends 2 and 3:  previous overnight backpacking.

Expectations:  participants will be expected to do some homework which includes reading and preparations.

Required gear:  a gear list for each weekend will be forthcoming including suggestions regarding clothing/footwear and overnight gear.

General Training Plan

Evening Session

• Gear overview
• Clothing/footwear
• Group management/people dynamics/risks
• Pre-trip planning

 Training Session 1 General Plan (offered twice):

• Day trip
• Scrambling safely skills including basic rope use (such as hand lines)
• Mountaineering axe: how to carry, how to use
• Glissade techniques
• Stream crossings

 Training Session #2 General Plan:

• Overnight trip (most likely Matier area; may include summit if time allows)
• Traveling on a glacier
• Roping up in teams of 2, 3, 4 (dividing up the rope, carrying the extra)
• Steep snow travel techniques
• Self arrest solo and when roped up
• Basic crevasse rescue

 Training Session #3 General Plan:

• 3-day trip to Mount Baker and summit via the Coleman-Deming
• Builds upon the skills from weekends 1 and 2
• Tenting on a glacier
• Additional crevasse rescue practice and situations

 
Please respond to the questions, in particular, describe your experience even if you have only done general hiking and backpacking.

Course Registration

The participant fee is $115 includes the indoor evening session and all 3 outdoor weekend sessions.
There will be at least two instructors and we're planning for a maximum of 15 "student" participants.  There will also be additional experienced participants to add to the overall safety and learning experience.

The registration process to attend this course will be:
a) you'll be placed on the Request List while we review your answers to our "Join" questions.
b) next, you're moved to the Waiting List where you'll pay online via the "Pay Now" button.^[1] 
c) After that, you'll be added to each session's Confirmed List  and sent email notifications.
   [1] If you plan to pay by personal cheque, please contact the course organizer ASAP.

Emergency Contact: If you haven't done so, please add it to your BCMC account by clicking on "My Account" in the top-right corner of our club website, then select "Edit Emergency Contact" under "Manage My Account" in the left column.

Waiver and Medical: Every participant must have read and agree to ("signed") the club's online Waiver.  In addition, those with potential medical issues, that might affect their course participation, need to contact the course organizer ASAP after registering for this course.

Changes - Cancellations: This course is weather-dependent and may be rescheduled in case of suspected poor weather.  If the course is rescheduled to another weekend that does not fit into your personal schedule then a full refund will be issued.  IMPORTANT: cancellation fees may apply in case of a cancellation by a participant; please review the BCMC Course Refund Policy for detailed information.