Intro to Mountaineering

Mountaineering

The Intro to Mountaineering weekend course will teach you the skills needed to climb a peak. Day one is a skills day. In the winter months we’ll work on such skills as traveling as a roped team, walking in crampons, using a mountaineering axe properly, and self arresting a fall. In the summer months we’ll be focusing more on rock skills. We’ll be working on belaying, basic movement, short-roping, and rappelling. On day two, we’ll utilize the skills we learned on day one and climb a mountaineering route in Rocky Mountain National Park. Outside Television joined us on one of our courses and did a great job highlighting what we do. After taking this course, we recommend taking the 5-day Mountain Development Series Level 1 course.

Course Details

Overview:

The first steps toward your mountaineering objectives:

  • Learn to use an ice axe and crampons
  • See how snow anchors and mountaineering technical systems work
  • Try mountaineering with minimal time commitment
  • Learn to move efficiently on snow and rock
  • Experience a technical climb and try for a summit

Time:

Day 1: 8:00am – 4:00pm, Day 2: Roughly 6:00am - 4:00pm

Duration:

2 Days

Maximum Ratio:

Day 1 = 6:1, Day 2 = 3:1

Minimum Age:

Please call to register participants under 18

Price includes & Excludes:

Includes:

  • Trained and/or certified guide
  • Group climbing gear
    • Technical hardware - climbing protection, carabiners,etc
    • Ropes
    • Technical softgoods - slings, cordellette, etc
  • Personal climbing gear
    • Harness
    • Helmet
    • Boots
    • Rock shoes
    • Crampons
    • Ice Ax
    • Avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe

Excludes:

  • Food
  • Transportation
  • Lodging
  • Clothing, backpack and non-technical personal items
  • Park Entrance Fees (where applicable)
  • Rescue Insurance
  • Trip Insurance
  • Gratuity
  • Expenses due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of Colorado Mountain School

Meeting location:

Colorado Mountain School
341 Moraine Avenue
Estes Park, CO 80517

Equipment List:

Mountaineering Equipment List

Sample Itinerary:

Day 1:  Mountaineering skills

Day 2:  Climb a route

Lodging:

Colorado Mountain School offers a 16 bunk lodge that is conveniently located upstairs from our office and classroom in downtown Estes Park.  The lodge features a full kitchen, WiFi, a lounge and hot showers. Reserve a bed now for just $40 per night (plus tax).

Notes:

All of our courses can be run as custom outings.  If you're interested in a course, but it doesn't fit into your schedule, please check out our custom guiding options.