Mountain School
The challenge of mountaineering offers you a chance to learn about yourself by venturing beyond the confines of the modern world and to forge lifetime bonds with climbing partners.
~Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, 10th Edition
PLEASE NOTE : Mountain School 2026 has received an abundance of applications. Further applications will be placed on a wait list.
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Mountain School 2026 Directors:
Li Ciavola, Eddy Kvasov, & Josh Walters
Overview
Mountain School is an introduction to general mountaineering. Snow/glacier travel, crevasse rescue, rock climbing, navigation, weather, first aid, and trip planning are just a few of the topics that will be covered during the 13 week long school. Mountain School is offered once each year running from February through Memorial Day.
Climbing and mountaineering, by their nature, involve a wide variety of risks and rewards. The goal of this course is to provide safe and competent instruction to the participants. This is achieved by the participation of past students and our instructor team working hand in hand with the Directors of the school. The best and the most experienced climbing instructors in the club will share their knowledge and skills with students to help them become competent, safe, and efficient in the mountains. Students will enjoy personal and experiential rewards as they become more aware and skilled in climbing and mountaineering.
Mountain School is a time intensive course, not unlike taking a college-level course, and requires a high level of student commitment and participation in order to graduate. Classroom sessions will be held weekly on Wednesday night. Outdoor sessions are held weekly on Saturdays, including three overnight trips from Saturday to Sunday. The bulk of the learning will take place outdoors on local mountains and rock climbing areas, and the graduation climb will take place in Canada. We will practice our skills over snow, ice, and glaciers and learn to climb vertical rock.
A solid foundation in backpacking is required for Mountain School, but no rock climbing experience is required. If you have limited outdoor experience or are new to backpacking, we recommend you enroll in Backpack School, offered by the Spokane Mountaineers in the spring. For Mountain School, it is necessary to be in good physical and mental condition in order to participate safely and successfully in our outdoor sessions. We have mandatory fitness requirements, with some guidelines listed below for self evaluation. If you are not already participating in some form of regular endurance based exercise, start training now. Group training activities will be offered throughout the course. Your level of conditioning will affect your success in the course as well as the success of your team members.
Mountaineering is an inherently dangerous sport. Students will encounter situations that are uncomfortable both physically and mentally that will test your abilities. As Directors and Instructors, we will help teach, mentor, and guide you in safely pushing those boundaries.
Tuition
Tuition for Mountain School, 2026 is $350, and includes:
- Course text: Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, 9th Edition
- Over 120 hours of instruction: ~22 hours in the classroom and over 100 hours outdoors
- Cord and webbing
- Unique apparel
- Electronic course reference materials
- Access to experienced instructors and trained experts
Additional out of pocket costs may include:
- Students will find some of their existing clothing and sleeping gear used now for their outdoor activities will need to be upgraded for the colder weather we encounter in mountaineering
- Transportation costs to and from indoor and outdoor activities. Carpooling is encouraged.
- Personal Climbing equipment needed for the class (see below).
Prerequisites for Acceptance to Mountain School
Students wishing to enroll in Mountain School must:
- Be a current member of the Spokane Mountaineers (non-members can pay club membership fees after acceptance into the course).
- Have a good foundation of backpacking and hiking skills.
- Have access to the needed personal climbing equipment and clothing used for backpacking and mountaineering.
- Be at least 15 years of age as of the first class meeting in February, and if under 18, provide a signed parental permission form (available from the Directors). If the student is under 18, then the parent of the student must also be actively involved, either as a student themselves, as an instructor, or active observer. Parent(s) of students under the age of 18 are required to attend the first class session and meet the Directors.
Attendance Requirements
- Be able to attend the graduation climb, May 22-25, in the Canadian Rockies. If you are unable to enter Canada or attend this event, please apply when you are able.
- Attend both the Mount Spokane and the Stevens Peak overnight trips, and the final skills test. Absences for these outdoor sessions are not allowed. No Exceptions.
- No more than one excused absence for all other outdoor and classroom sessions.
Fitness Requirements
- Before the first day of class, students must be able to ascend and descend 1200-1500 vertical feet within 2 hours while carrying 25lbs. This is roughly equivalent to hiking to the top of Mt. Spokane and back to the base with a backpack.
- Students will be expected to increase their training workload throughout the course. The final graduation climb will require 12-16 hours of continual movement in difficult alpine terrain.
- Training opportunities will be presented throughout the course.
- Please reach out to the school directors if you have concerns about meeting the fitness requirements.
Graduation Requirements
- Meet the attendance requirements listed above.
- Pass both the practical skills exam and an in-person written exam.
- Participate in two approved climbs before the Annual Banquet in November, 2026. The first of these two climbs will be the Graduation Climb at the culmination of this school. The second climbcan be student or instructor led. Students must demonstrate their ability to plan, organize, and execute a mountaineering trip in alpine territory. Instructors are encouraged to provide opportunities for students to participate in supervised climbs.
- Earn or show current First Aid certification. Note - This may be waived if a student possesses an equivalent or greater certification such as WFR, WFA or you are a medical professional with the associated training.
- Participate in a volunteer, “day of service," focused on outdoor conservation, such as trail maintenance or cleanup. The Spokane Mountaineers can help provide opportunities.
Guidelines to Excel in Mountain School
Students wishing to enroll in Mountain School must:
- Review the 2026 schedule and plan to attend all outdoor sessions and the graduation climb on Memorial Day. If you are undable to attend these sessions, please apple during a year when you are able to attend these required climbs.
- Possess adequate physical conditioning to move up and down steep terrain with a heavy pack at high altitudes for long periods of time.
- Be mentally fit and aware of the broad scope and demanding requirements of mountaineering. Possess awareness of your physical and mental state and be able to communicate this to your teammates.
- Be willing to learn and participate and willing to assist others when you are able.
- Be community and team oriented.
- Have the correct equipment for the course and be competent in its usage.
Gear Information
In addition to general backpacking gear (backpack, tent, sleeping bag/ pad, stove, etc.), students will need to have basic climbing equipment including but not limited to mountaineering boots, a climbing harness, carabiners, helmet, ice axe, and crampons. Equipment will be covered during the first two weeks of the class and students should wait to purchase equipment until after those first classes. Please note mountaineering can be an expensive sport. It is common to find that you need additional gear as you develop your craft. A detailed equipment list is available upon request, and will be provided with your acceptance to the course. The list is also included in the instructional packet at the first class session. The club works with some local companies who provide member and school discounts whenever possible. Students will have access to our climbing community to ask questions about gear.
Application Process
Please fill out the online application at the link below. The application will go live at 8am, PST, November 19, 2025. Please fill out this application carefully and completely. The school director(s) will review applications and notify applicants of acceptance status by the end of December. If you have been accepted to Mountain School, a subsequent email will be sent that will contain instructions for payment of the $350 tuition.
Refund Policy
Please provide at least 2 weeks notice, prior to the first class, if you need to withdraw from the course, and a refund will be provided. No refunds will be given if less than 2 weeks notice.
Questions? Contact the Mountain School Directors.