IntroDuction to Mountaineering

COURSES HELD IN North Conway, NH

This course is for those that want to learn the skills needed to start mountaineering! Do you sit at your desk at work and stare at photos of big, snowy mountains? Do you dream of climbing Mt Baker, Mt Rainier, or Denali? The skills learned in this course are the foundation that can take you to those heights! Whether you have a climbing background or not, come join us for one of our introductory courses! You won’t be disappointed! Also consider signing up for a third day ascent of Mt Washington!

You will spend two days with an experienced guide going over the basics of mountaineering and mountain climbing. We will start the two days course by discussing gear, equipment, and the necessary knots and hitches needed to travel as a mountaineer. We will talk about technical vs mountaineering crampons and ice axes. We will then learn how to wear and use crampons, including the variety of ways that we want to step in crampons, and techniques to minimize fatigue while ascending potentially thousands of feet. We will work on incorporating ice axes next, and how to use that in conjunction with your crampons to provide stability and security. Day one will finish with a walk about, and describing the basics of walking on a rope team.

Day two we will spend all day in discussing self arresting, continuing to work as a rope team, and refining techniques for all participants. After this course, you should have the requisite skills necessary to start your journey as a mountaineer! We will discuss next steps, goals, and send you on your way to summit glory!

Sign up as an individual, a group, or a family!

WHAT MAKES THIS COURSE DIFFERENT:

We run these courses to teach you the requisite skills necessary to start mountaineering. If you have never climbed before, it doesn’t matter! Join this course and see what its about, and learn the skills necessary to get yourself out there.

This course is fully focused on the beginner, the mountaineering novice. As such, much time will be spent on proper wear and usage of crampons and winter clothing. We will spend time discussing proper layers and clothing system prior to, and during your course with us.

Once we are climbing, we will focus initially on proper footwork, and how to move both with and without crampons. We will spend time on drills to learn and drive home the ideas of good, and bad, footwork. Once we have mastered this, we will add in our ice ax and how to use it while moving. We will start out on lower angled terrain, and gradually work our way up to steeper terrain as our skills, progress.

On Day two we will focus primarily on how to move as a group, and what to do if that group, or yourself, if to fall. We will practice self arresting with out ice axe, and spend time sliding downhill and learning how to stop. Whether your goals are Mt Washington, or bigger mountains out west, this course is your starting point.

We pride ourselves in being able to cater to the group dynamics of the day. Just because this a group event doesn’t mean that we necessarily have to follow a prescribed curriculum. The curriculum listed above is just a guideline. If you and your group want to pursue additional ideas, goals, or education, then we can make that happen! Just let us know!

We pride ourselves on keeping low ratios of students to instructors, and providing individualized and exceptional instruction. If you want to see what outdoor climbing is all about, then join us now!