
Intro to Mountaineering
We'll cover the following topics and skills:
- The Rest Step: the Foundation of Mountaineering
- Crampons Types and pros and cons of each How to put them on Techniques: flat footing, duck step, pied a troisieme, front pointing, plunge stepping
- Ice Axes Types of axes and pros and cons of each Anatomy of the axe and how to hold it
- Ice Axe Arrest: Rope Team Arrest (to stop a partner who has fallen into a crevasse in glaciated terrain) Self Arrest (to stop yourself from falling)
- Rope Travel For glaciated terrain For steep technical terrain with a guide
- Transitions - Hiking to Climbing Crampons
Here's the schedule for your course:
- 7:30 am - Meet your guide at the trailhead
- 8:00 am - We'll spend the day demonstrating and coaching while you practice mountaineering skills
- 12:00pm - Lunch on the go
- 3:00pm - Course ends
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- This is an introductory program - No mountaineering experience is required!
- Basic Fitness - Able to spend an active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of roughly 1 hour between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 3-5 miles and climb 1,000-1,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day.
- Mountaineering Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from us
Here's what's included with your course:
- Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
- Ropes and Gear for training
- Group Safety Gear - your guide will be equipped with snow science tools and a first aid kit
- Wag bags for human waste disposal - in with compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles
- Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
Mountaineering Gear
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
- Climbing Harness
- Mountaineering Boots are recommended, but sturdy, waterproof hiking boots will work for this course.
Know Before you go





Blackbird Mountain Guides offers both scheduled group programs and private programs.
Private programs are simply above and beyond what Blackbird Mountain Guides currently has scheduled. Scheduled courses are not always less expensive. Before booking a trip with Blackbird Mountain Guides, clients are encouraged to review the differences between these types of programs, and to decide what works best for them.
SCHEDULED PROGRAMS
Scheduled Programs have fixed dates, itineraries, objectives, curriculum, and costs. They typically appeal to solo individuals or small groups or who are looking to share the cost of their program with a larger group. Correspondingly, scheduled programs are less expensive for smaller groups (1-2), and they provide the opportunity to meet others with similar interests. If you have a large group (3+), Scheduled programs will often be more expensive. They can fill up quickly, and scheduling flexibility is obviously limited.
Scheduled programs will have advertised dates. All scheduled programs can be run as private programs with private dates/rates as well.
PRIVATE PROGRAMS
Private programs have scheduling freedom. They typically appeal to those who would like some flexibility in planning their own trip or course. In this regard, Itineraries and objectives can be tailored to suit current conditions as well as client goals. Private programs are normally less expensive for larger groups (3+). If you have a small group (1-2) private programs will be more expensive.

Here's the schedule for your course:
- 7:30 am - Meet your guide at the trailhead
- 8:00 am - We'll spend the day demonstrating and coaching while you practice ski mountaineering skills
- 12:00pm - Lunch on the go
- 3:00pm - Course ends
We'll cover the following topics and skills:
- The Rest Step: the Foundation of Mountaineering
- Crampons Types and pros and cons of each How to put them on Techniques: flat footing, duck step, pied a troisieme, front pointing, plunge stepping
- Ice Axes Types of axes and pros and cons of each Anatomy of the axe and how to hold it
- Ice Axe Arrest: Rope Team Arrest (to stop a partner who has fallen into a crevasse in glaciated terrain) Self Arrest (to stop yourself from falling)
- Rope Travel For glaciated terrain For steep technical terrain with a guide
- Transitions - Hiking to Climbing Crampons
Here's the schedule for your course:
- 7:30 am - Meet your guide at the trailhead
- 8:00 am - We'll spend the day demonstrating and coaching while you practice mountaineering skills
- 12:00pm - Lunch on the go
- 3:00pm - Course ends
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- This is an introductory program - No mountaineering experience is required!
- Basic Fitness - Able to spend an active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of roughly 1 hour between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 3-5 miles and climb 1,000-1,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day.
- Mountaineering Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from us
Here's what's included with your course:
- Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
- Ropes and Gear for training
- Group Safety Gear - your guide will be equipped with snow science tools and a first aid kit
- Wag bags for human waste disposal - in with compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles
- Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
Mountaineering Gear
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
- Climbing Harness
- Mountaineering Boots are recommended, but sturdy, waterproof hiking boots will work for this course.


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