Description:

The emphasis of course is to provide students with the basic skills needed to climb safely with a group traveling on steep snow (alpine mountaineering). The course will prepare students to travel on glaciers, negotiate steep slopes of snow, and participate in Obsidian climbs. This course is not meant to train people to lead groups on rock or glaciers but rather to be a safe team member.

The course consists of two classroom sessions and one field session covering introduction to alpine mountaineering and snow skills. The class is limited to 12 participants. You must be 16 or older to participate; but will need a parent or guardian signature if under 18. Please see the Climbs page of the Obsidians webpage for more detail.
The Basic Mountaineering class helps people learn the skills needed to participate safely on climbs in alpine environments. The emphasis for this course is to provide the basic skills needed to climb safely with a group in snow that may lead to travel on glaciers or steep snow slopes. This course is not meant to train people to lead groups on snow or glaciers but rather to be a safe team member. We will not cover in detail the use of map and compass, weather and avalanche assessment, or crevasse rescue.

Skills to be covered: Stowing/Carrying an ice axe, self-arrest techniques, snow-specific footwork with and without crampons, knots and technique for walking on a rope team (glacier travel), and more.

The course consists of two classroom sessions, April 1 and 3 and one field session Saturday April 5 covering introduction to snow skills. The class is limited to 12 participants who are 16 or older. Those who are under 18 will need a parent or guardian signature. Those between ages 13 and 16 may participate if accompanied by a parent or responsible adult who is also enrolled in the course.

Class sessions are schedule on April 1 and April 3 and will be held at the Obsidian Lodge from 6:00 pm to 8:30pm

Field session is scheduled for Saturday April 5.

Location for Field Session: TBA (Hopefully near Santiam Pass)

Gear requirements will be distributed well ahead of the class.