Looking to explore bigger mountains? Make the leap from hiker to climber with this introduction to mountaineering skills. This program will provide you with an understanding of the skills and tools you need to travel efficiently in big, snowy mountains.
Our expert guides will dial you in on the gear, techniques and safety tips to have you bagging peaks like Mt Shasta and Mt Hood and others in no time! These are fundamental skills that you can use everywhere from Mt Tallac to Mount Everest!
In this course you'll learn the skills you need to climb and ski big, snowy mountains using ski crampons, boot crampons, and ice axes. We'll cover:
- Boot Crampons: when and how to use them including various footwork techniques.
- Ice Axes: Self and Rope Team Arrest
- Ropes: basic techniques for travelling on a rope team or with a guide
Requisite Experience
This program is an introductory course designed to provide an understanding of the techniques and tools used in classic mountaineering. You don't need any prerequisite skills, just some moderate fitness and the ability to learn athletic movements that involve your whole body.
Feel free to email us if you're unsure and we can help you figure it out!
Dates
Contact Us Here to Schedule Custom Dates for a Mountaineering Fundamentals course today!
Available Dates
Prices
$225 per person!Itinerary
Our expert guides will dial you in on the gear, techniques and safety tips to have you bagging peaks like Mount Shasta and Mount Hood and others in no time! These are fundamental skills that you can use everywhere from Mount Tallac to Mount Everest!Equipment
Gear Guide / Packing List
Mountaineering Gear
- Climbing boots - Suitable for the Weather and Mountain; LaSportiva Trango, LaSportiva G5 or LaSportiva Nepal Cube, Scarpa Phantom Tech or Scarpa Mont Blanc
- Gaiters - Low Profile, Lightweight Gaiters; OR Flex-Tex II
Avalanche Gear
- Avalanche Beacon - Digital Avalanche Transceiver; Black Diamond Guide Recon BT
- Avalanche Shovel - Collapsible, Aluminum Shovel; Backcountry Access BT2 Shovel
- Avalanche Probe - Quickdraw Style Probe; Backcountry Access Stealth 300
Technical Gear
- Climbing Helmet - Dual Rated Helmet; Petzl Sirocco or Black Diamond Vision
- Climbing Harness - Light Alpine Harness; Petzl Altitude, Mammut Zephyr Altitude
- Two Locking Carabiners - Petzl Attache, etc
- Crampons, Steel OR Aluminum - make sure they are compatible with your boots!
- Ice Axe - Petzl Ride, BD Raven Ultra
- Trekking Poles - Lightweight, Adjustable Poles with Baskets; BD Alpine FLZ Poles
Head and Neck Layers
- Sun Hat - A Baseball Hat; Blackbird Mountain Guides Logo Hat
- Sunglasses - Dark Lens Glasses with Side Coverage; Julbo Shield
- Warm Hat - Lightweight Warm Hat that Fits Under Your Helmet;
- Neck Gaiters - Light to Midweight Neck Gaiters; Buff
Upper Body and Hand Layers
- Long Sleeve Base Layer - Lightweight, Synthetic/Wool; Patagonia SunHoody
- 2 Insulating Top Layers - Light to Midweight Insulation Layers; Patagonia R1 & Nano Air
- Puffy (optional) - Midweight Down or Synthetic with Hood; Patagonia Fitzroy or similar
- Hardshell Jacket, Hooded - Waterproof, Gore-Tex, NOT insulated; Arc’Teryx Alpha FL
- Light Gloves - Light to Mid Weight for Warm Temps; Flylow John Henry Gloves, BD Tour
- Midweight Gloves - Mid to Heavy Weight for Cold Conditions; BD Legend
Lower Body and Foot Layers
- Socks - Midweight Wool/Synthetic; Darn Tough Via Ferrata
- Long Underwear - Wool/Synthetic “Long Johns”; Patagonia Capilene Air
- Softshell Ski Pants - Breathable, Weather Resistant Pants; OR Trailbreaker II
- Vented Hardshell Ski Pants - Waterproof Pants for Extreme Weather; Flylow Compound
Food and Water
- Food - Bring enough snacks water for a full day in the field
- Water - Bring enough water for a full day in the field
Other Essentials
- Sun Screen (SPF 30 minimum)
- Lip Balm (with SPF)
- Hand Sanitizer
Optional
- First Aid/blister Kit
- Chemical Hand Warmers
- Hydration System - Flexible Water Bladder with Hose; Hydrapak, Camelback, Platypus
Group Gear
- Blackbird Mountain Guides will supply all of the group gear for the trip, including:
- Ropes
- Guide’s First Aid Kits
- Wag Bags (Solid Human Waste Disposal Bags)