Alpine Climbing Seminar

General Info


TUITION - $275 + Volunteer requirements.

  

CLASS SIZE LIMIT - 4


COURSE DURATION - October 2023 thru September 2024


HOURS OF INSTRUCTION - 50+


Questions?  Contact the School Directors


You must be a member to participate. Not yet a member?

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Alpine Climbing School


DIRECTORS:

  • Lindsay Morgan-Chutas
  • Li Ciavola


Start Date - TBA

Course Duration - 1 year

Course Schedule - TBD with input from seminar participants

Cost: $275


If you are interested in this class, but unsure of your qualifications, or have any other questions, please reach out to Lindsay or Li.


Objectives

The purpose of this seminar is to function as a capstone class for climbers who are interested in climbing technical alpine objectives.

  • The goal is for students who have already completed Mountain School, the Ice Seminar, and Trad School, and who have expressed interest in independent technical climbs, to apply the multi-pitch efficiency skills and techniques they’ve learned in previous courses in the alpine environment.
  • This course is designed as a mentorship program, where students will be expected to participate in the trip planning, and therefore the ultimate direction of where the class finalizes.
  • As the course runs for the length of the year, we expect participants to assist in the leadership of other climbing classes as instructors, as well as complete or review the high angle rescue material when offered in the fall of 2023.
  • Upon completion of the class, students will have gained confidence to be stronger alpine climbers, and more confident club leaders. Students will be paired with their class-long partner early in the course. It will be encouraged that climbing partners register for the class together but is not required.


Course Structure

The course will be open to 2-4 students. The course is designed to run for 12 consecutive months. The course will consist of approximately 12-16 indoor meeting sessions, focused on either a particular alpine skill or trip planning, and 3-4 outdoor trips.

 

Educational Objectives and Structured Learning Phases


The class will function in 4 curriculum phases, with each phase iterating in skill development appropriate to the objective of that phase. Objectives will then build, one off the other, in sequence. 


Phase 1 - The first phase will focus on ice climbing. Specific emphasis will be placed on waterfall ice climbing, lead and multipitch skills on short multipitch ice climbs, with the goal of helping students gain experience ice climbing with packs, transitioning between ice pitches and snow scrambles, swapping leads etc.


Phase 2 - The second phase will focus on efficient team movement over 4th and low 5th class rock terrain, utilizing solo climbing, simul-climbing, pitched climbing, and the transition between the three. The outdoor objective will prioritize overland travel and routefinding with small elements of technical climbing. 


Phase 3 - The third phase will focus on multipitch rock climbing in the alpine environment, with significant approaches and increased amount of pitched out climbing. The objective can include overnighting, either through a bivy or planned basecamp, and a long series of technical pitches. 


Phase 4 - The fourth phase will focus on alpine objectives that will consolidate the skill sets described above and may involve light glacier travel, route finding, alpine ice steps, rock steps, and steep snow climbing.


Specific supporting climb objectives will be chosen and researched by the students and instructors in the class in the months leading up to the climb. Students will be encouraged and expected to practice the skills learned in between objectives.


Prerequisites 

Successful completion of the following:

  • Mountain School
  • Trad/Lead School
  • Ice Climbing Seminar

 

Application Process

The course is limited to 4 participants.  Participants must be 18 or older.  All participants must be members of the Spokane Mountaineers. Join now if you are not a member already or if you membership is not current.


Selection criteria will include, but not be limited to, date application was submitted, climbing experience, committment to the dates of the course, and previous participation with the Spokane Mountaineers.



The application link below will take you to a form. Please fill this out carefully and completely. If you pass the initial screening, you will then receive an email that outlines an essay that the directors require for final acceptance.