Mountaineering Development Series: Level 1

5 reviews for Mountaineering Development Series: Level 1

1. 

   welmakerj (verified owner) – May 31, 2019

   This course was amazing! I took it during the last week in May and the conditions were perfect. It is a great introduction course for mountaineering. My guide was Mia Tucholke. She was a true professional and very knowledgeable in this field. If you are looking to hire a guide, I would definitely go with her!

2. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Sanjee Choudhuri (verified owner) – June 1, 2021

   Overview: I did the 5-day Mountaineering Development Series Level 1 course through the Colorado Mountain School led by Max Lurie and found it to be an incredible introductory course to learn the basics of snow climbing, technical rock climbing, and other soft skills such as navigation, knowledge of tools/equipment in a relatively safe and controlled manner while still pushing our limits to learn more. If you are someone interested in learning about mountaineering in a hands-on environment I cannot recommend the 5-day course enough.

   Full Review: I took the Mountaineering Development Series Level 1 course in May 2021 and found the experience very useful and rewarding. I have been hiking, including thru-hiking, for a few years but I have never seriously rock climbed or snow climbed and signed up for the course to learn more with some goals of climbing Mt. Rainer or similar peaks. Our class size was six people ranging from completely new beginners to people with some snow climbing experience. During the course, we varied the topics from the basics of technical rock climbing (tieing in, rappelling, etc) to, basics of snow climbing (mountain ax usage, basic motions, and steps, self-arresting) and then progressed to climbing different gulleys/couloirs in RMNP. I found all of the guides and instructors to have an incredible depth of experience and knowledge. Our lead guide/instructor was Max Lurie, who was able to create a great learning environment where he taught us the basics and gave guidance when necessary but also allowed the space to try things independently and learn at our own pace while practicing skills. When doing more technical/challenging climbs we were joined by a host of other guides: Joey, Tyler, and Ben. By having so many guides we were able to receive individualized help and attention while climbing and helped to mitigate any lack of security or safety that could occur with new climbers. During the entirety of the course, there was not a single moment where I felt unsafe – Max helped to ensure that we were well equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary for everything we did and talked us through the multiple redundancies in place to keep us safe. I climbed specifically with both Joey and Ben as well and found that they were both fantastic guides who were able to answer any questions I had and also were able to even individualize parts of the climb themselves. For example, Ben realized that our rope team enjoyed technical rock climbing so he took us on an alternate route that had more rock climbing on it which ended up being my most exciting and enjoyable moment! Finally, at the end of the course, Max provided great next steps on how to continue our education and possible future goals. After the conclusion of this course, I now feel like I have been equipped with the knowledge necessary to do the following: walk into any outdoor store and know what equipment I need for an objective, climb some simple objectives with like-minded people, and prepare for and climb more difficult objectives with a trained guide (such as Mt. Rainer). These outcomes were more than I expected to receive from just a 5-day course, but that speaks to the experience of the guides not just as climbers but as instructors and teachers. I highly recommend this course for anyone interested in mountaineering from a first-time beginner to a moderately experienced hiker such as myself. Thank you to Max, Joey, Ben, and Tyler for such a great experience!

3. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Jud Strong (verified owner) – December 14, 2021

   I took the mountaineering level 1 course starting Dec 4, 2021 and found it to be outstanding. My guide, Buster Jesick, a pinned mountaineer was fantastic. Buster’s attention to detail gave me confidence at all times that I was never in great danger. He was very clear and concise as to the proper methods for anchoring, belaying, rappelling, etc. as well as being a thoroughly pleasant and friendly person. With the lack of snow in early winter we focused mostly on rock climbing (my primary interest) and ice climbing. What a challenge and thrill! Everyone I came in contact with was very helpful and friendly and I cannot recommend CMS (and Buster) any more highly! Thank you, I will be back in the spring for the Level 2!

4. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Alberto Riva (verified owner) – May 29, 2023

   Took Mountaineering Dev 1, led by Sarah Janin, in late May 2023 with seven other students of varying abilities. I came in with some alpine experience including 13K ft peaks with mixed climbing, and I left after five days with new skills and a fresh outlook on what I could accomplish as a mountaineer. Conditions in RMNP were ideal for couloir climbing, so on day 2 we split into groups with several guides and I went up Hallett Couloir with two other students and guide Andy Hansen – fantastic day, so much so that I hope to climb again with Andy and the guys I was with. On day 5, I was on Sarah’s rope team, again with two other students, going up Dragon’s Tail couloir. Snow up to 50 deg and a fun section of rock to climb in crampons, under Sarah’s cheerful, attentive, intelligent guidance. I’d love to climb with the same team again, too. The other three days were also intense and memorable experiences. Bravo to the other CMS guides who helped during the course: Japhy Dhungana, Buster Jesik and Dylan Reed, all patient and consummate pros who made the whole thing a true joy. I know I will call on them for future mountain projects. The CMS folks know what they’re doing, and they’ve earned themselves a loyal client.

5. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Galit Sharon Marcus (verified owner) – June 7, 2023

   I took Mountaineering Level One led by Ben Markhart the first week of May 2023 as a pre-requisite for an upcoming Mont Blanc attempt/climb in Aug 2023. I was the only female in the group, and about 20 years older than the rest of the guys in the group (51 years old), in decent physical shape, without a lot of prior outdoor rock climbing experience (one multi-pitch 5.5 climb with exposure in the Gunks last year), and I flew in from sea level (NYC). I summited Kilimanjaro about 20 years ago, and last year summited Mt Sneffels and some CO 13ers, so I had a little alpine experience prior. It was a fantastic course, and I had a great time. Ben is a fantastic educator and leader, and I learned a great deal about climbing skills on rock, snow and ice, crampon and ice axe use, rope-team skills, self arrest, picket use, knowledge about gear (what to get, what works for me personally), and most importantly, about myself, my current abilities, and what I can focus on to improve. I spent two days on 1:1 climbs with Dylan Reed during the course, due to differences in skill level, and because my breathing was more labored than expected at altitude so I was slower. The first 1:1 climb with Dylan was multi-pitch climbing, scrambling, and summiting East Glacier Knob, with more pitches and exposure than I had ever done in my life; it was exhilarating and seriously one of the best days ever. The second 1:1 day with Dylan was snow-climbing Butterfinger Couloir, which was another awesome day. The days in between were also full of good mixed climbing, practicing, and learning. It’s a group class with people of varying abilities, and Ben and the CMS team handled the variation excellently. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in learning the basics about alpine mountaineering. It’s a serious and intense course, but don’t be intimidated if you’re a bit older and really excited about this stuff; just be in excellent shape as it’s physically demanding, and it helps to acclimate to altitude prior. It’s only a 5-day course so it’s just a taste of what’s possible out in the mountains. After this course, I can’t wait to put my new knowledge and gear to good use at Mont Blanc in August. I’m looking forward to a Mt Baker climb next year, and have my sights on Mt Rainier, Grand Teton, and the Matterhorn. I’m looking forward to climbing with Dylan in the Grand Tetons. Also, I’m shouting out to Japhy Dhungana, who I hired for a Flatiron climb after the mountaineering course. Japhy is a fantastic human being, guide, and climber. Seriously, he’s awesome. And I can’t leave out Meg Yingling, CMS guide extraordinaire, who guided me up McHenry’s Peak via Stoneman Pass last year, and with whom I attempted Longs Peak last year, who recommended the Mountaineering Level One course to me in the first place. Thank you Meg.