Intro to Mountaineering

BlackSheep's Intro to Mountaineering / Basic Alpinism course will provide you with the tools and techniques you need to get into the alpine this summer!

Have you ever thought of tackling a classic alpine route on a peak like Mt. Wedge, Baker or maybe Garibaldi? There are simply so many amazing alpine routes along the Coast and all the way through to the Rockies. However, they can be dangerous if approached incorrectly. Our 3-Day Intro to Mountaineering course was specifically designed to give you the essential skills required to choose, prepare and then safely tackle classic alpine routes. We will cover many facets of alpine climbing in a safe, organized and easy to understand approach.

Our ACMG Certified and experienced guides will show you how to safely and efficiently move through alpine terrain including technical rock, steep snow and ice and glaciers.

The first day focuses on what we like to call Rock School where we cover topics like trad gear placement, anchor building, rappelling, belaying and general rope systems. Then on the second day we move on to Snow School were topics like basic glacier travel, snow and ice protection, snow and ice anchors as well as steep snow climbing are covered.

Then, after 2 days of training, the students put those skills together and lead an ascent of a local alpine objective under the guidance of the guide. This provides a great opportunity to really see how some complex alpine terrain can be safely managed in an efficient manner while having fun and getting to the top of a cool peak.

If you think you're ready for something a little harder or more advanced we also offer an Advanced Mountaineering & Alpinism course that delves deeper into the practice of modern alpinism.

Waiver & Risk Management:

As you know, outdoor activities involve numerous hazards including, but not limited to, avalanches, crevasses, rockfall, slips and falls, equipment failure, poor weather, etc. And while we do our best to anticipate and mitigate these hazards we cannot completely eliminate them. So, as with anything fun, you will be required to sign our Participant Release to take part in one of our courses or trips.