Mountaineering & Alpinism

Boulder Mountaineering School: 

An introduction to the wide variety of skills important in the mountains: navigation, trip planning, basic rock climbing and rope work, beginner and intermediate snow climbing, and survival essentials. Registration typically opens at the beginning of the year, and course dates are typically offered in the Spring (March-May) 

Course Requirements: 

• Prerequisites for this course include a high level of fitness, some backcountry hiking experience, and a positive attitude. WFA and AIARE 1 are not required but are great courses for your mountaineering background.    

• Gear required: Helmet, harness, mountaineering boots, climbing shoes and crampons are the biggest items you’ll need to acquire beyond the usual camping/hiking gear/apparel. We do have some extra ice axes we can lend out on a first come first serve basis, along with a few pairs of crampons. 

Denver - Alpine Climbing School: 

Think of the Alpine Climbing School (ACS) as an academic/vocational degree within the Technical Climbing School. Courses typically run March-June.   

• Modular Track: you simply look at the CMC calendar and select the class sessions that fit your schedule 

• Team Track: allows you to work with the same small group of classmates and instructors throughout all the Alpine Climbing classes. 

Course Requirements: 

• School prerequisites are: Proven backcountry experience, WTS or Wilderness Trekking School Waiver, Backpacking School, Equivalent Experience, High level of fitness (C level hiker classification), Basic Rock or Waiver, Navigation 1.  

• The Alpine Climbing School includes the following courses: Navigation Level 2, Intermediate Rock Climbing, Basic Anchors, Climbing Self Rescue 1, Intermediate Snow, Advanced Snow.   

• In addition to the classes above, you will also complete the following trips: Rock climb, High peak ridge climb, Couloir climb, High peak overnight grad climb.   

Pikes Peak Group - High Altitude Mountaineering School: 

This is a course designed for those climbers who want to go beyond the 14ers to take on high altitude (15,000' plus) and glaciated mountains. Classroom sessions include such topics as equipment, medical concerns, nutrition and menu planning, fitness and training, organizing an expedition, and group dynamics. Field sessions cover such topics as roped travel, crevasse rescue, climbing alpine ice, and winter camping. A graduation climb of Mt. Rainier takes place at the end of the course.   Registration typically opens early Fall (Aug-Sept) and course dates are typically offered early winter (Oct-Feb) 

Course Requirements: 

• Prerequisite: All Basic Mountaineering School courses 

• Class will consist of 6 evening lectures between October and December followed by 5 field sessions to practice skills. 

• A graduation climb of Mt. Rainier or other glaciated peak will follow the course. 

• Gear required: Helmet, harness, mountaineering boots, climbing shoes and crampons are the biggest items you’ll need to acquire beyond the usual camping/hiking gear/apparel. We do have some extra ice axes we can lend out on a first come first serve basis, along with a few pairs of crampons. 

Denver - Glacier Travel School:   

Glacier Travel is for CMC members who are interested in learning and practicing the glacier travel and alpine skills that are needed to safely climb and enjoy glaciated mountains, including Mt. Rainier, Denali, the Andes. Glacier Travel culminates in a grad climb of Mt. Rainier, Mt Baker, Mt Adams or a similar high, glaciated peak. 

Course Requirements:  

• Students should already have experience or take a course in: Basic Self Rescue in technical terrain, Intermediate Rock Climbing, Advanced Snow climbing, Basic/Intermediate Navigation. 
• Registration typically opens in the fall and courses begin in January 

 Denver Technical Climbing School – Ice: 

Classes and trips are designed to teach the technical elements of rock and snow climbing, including the use of ropes, anchors, ice tools, protection, crampons and specialized skills to safely negotiate challenging terrain. Typically Offered:  January - February 

Courses offerings: 

• Basic Ice Climbing 

• Intermediate Ice Climbing 

• Ice Lead Climbing 

• Mixed Ice Climbing