Basic Mountaineering Course

The Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC) is offered by Central Washington Mountain Rescue (CWMR) as a community-education service, open to anyone (with minor requirements for full participation, see Requirements below).

The CWMR BMC prepares students with foundational mountaineering knowledge, skills, and values for safe basic climbing. Students learn about climbing and safety equipment, risk and hazard evaluation, and physiological needs of the climber. Basic through easy Class 5 rock climbing, belaying, and rappelling are covered. Safe methods of snow travel, glacier travel, and crevasse rescue techniques are also learned.

All classes and sessions are led by trained mountaineering and rescue personnel. All content is intended to reduce risk for those intending to participate in mountaineering activities. This course does not provide certification of any kind nor validation of competency of any included content. Students are required to read, understand, and sign a liability waiver prior to participation.

 

REGISTRATION:
Step 1) Submit online registration https://forms.gle/Z3eGtb1JfzJqQEzBA 

Step 2) Receive confirmation email from bmc@cwmr.org that you have been allotted a space in class.

Note: Class spaces will be held in the order applications are received. Once the class is full, applicants will be added to a waitlist and informed of their position on the waitlist. Students who do not attend the first class without prior notice will not be allowed to attend further classes and their space will be offered to the waitlist. After the evening of the first class, if openings become available, waitlisted applicants will be contacted by email and phone and offered available openings in order of application - responses not received within 24 hours will be offered to the next applicant on the waitlist.

Step 3) Donations are strongly recommended to defray equipment costs (all technical equipment for BMC is provided free of charge), support this 100% volunteer-led education service, and contribute to the overall mission of CWMR.  https://cwmr.org/donate/

Note: Previous classes required a fee to secure a space in class. Beginning in 2025, BMC is being switched to a donation model (donations do not hold or guarantee a space in class - spaces are filled in order of application). We suggest a minimum donation of $250 for BMC. Recognizing that this amount is significantly less than similar regional basic mountaineering programs, and that some participants may not be able to donate, we encourage those who are able to donate more, such as $350 as an additional boost to CWMR or $500 to cover another student's minimum suggested donation.

 

REQUIREMENTS:

BMC is open to all with the minor guidelines below:

• No prior climbing experience required.
• For students <18 years of age:
  • Students must be 15 years of age or older by the date of the first class.
  • Students under 18 years of age must enroll in the class with an enrolled parent or legal guardian.
  • Parent/legal guardian must attend all activities and classes that the teen attends.
• General physical fitness that includes the ability to carry a pack of 25 lbs or more uphill through 1,000 feet of elevation gain over uneven, rocky, and snowy terrain in an hour or less, to be demonstrated any time prior to participation in the Glacier Travel field session in June (at the Snow field session, or on an approved hike).
• Essential personal gear: backpack, water-resistant boots, water bottle, rain shell, fire-starter/matches, whistle, first aid kit, pocket knife/multi-tool, headlamp, sun protection, synthetic or wool clothing. Information and details to be provided during class.
  • We do not recommend making any gear purchases before BMC begins. Equipment can be borrowed or rented. Instructors are more than willing to provide insight and advice about gear purchases.
• All necessary technical gear is provided (rope, harness, helmet, ice axe, carabiners, etc.)
• Study required readings and videos BEFORE class
• Active participation in all class and field sessions
• Transportation to all sessions (carpooling coordination available)

 

ATTENDANCE:

Students who do not attend the first class without prior notice will not be allowed to attend further classes and their space will be offered to the waitlist.

There is an objective safety restriction that students must participate in the prerequisite sessions that correspond with field sessions. Students that do not attend prerequisite sessions will not be allowed to participate in field sessions:

• Ropes & Rock; Belay; Rappel CLASS --> Wilridge Rock FIELD
• Rock & Snow Travel CLASS --> Snow Day FIELD
• Glacier Travel; Crevasse Rescue CLASS, Crevasse Rescue SKILLS, Rock Skills; Snow Day FIELD --> Glacier Day FIELD

 

REQUIRED RESOURCES:
Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills, 10th Edition, by the Mountaineers and Ronald C. Eng

• https://bookshop.org/p/books/mountaineering-the-freedom-of-the-hills-mountaineers-books/21189073 
• Paperback ISBN-10 1680516078
• Paperback ISBN-13 978-1680516074
• (there are no significant content changes from the 9th edition but chapter, page numbers, and some organization of content differ slightly)

A compass is also required (and part of your 10 essentials!). We strongly recommend an adjustable declination compass:

• Good beginner option: https://thecompassstore.com/products/f8010glow 
• Good beginner option: https://thecompassstore.com/products/ftruarc3 
• All adjustable declination: https://thecompassstore.com/collections/compasses-with-adjustable-declination

 

CLASSROOM SESSIONS:

• Mondays 7:00-8:30 P.M.
  • Mar 24, 31; Apr 07, 14, 21, 28; May 05
  • Yakima County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) aka Yakima County Resource Center (46.5676, -120.4769)
  • 2403 S 18th St #200, Union Gap, WA 98903
  • Inside clothes. Book, writing utensil, any distributed or noted gear for evening.

 

SKILLS AND FIELD SESSIONS:

• Apr 09 Wed to Apr 23 Wed - ROCK SKILLS
  • At least one required
  • 5:30-8:00PM/dark - drop-in, but arrive as early as possible to have enough time
  • Wilridge Winery, 250 Ehler Rd, Yakima (46.6237, -120.6265)
  • Comfortable clothes that can get a little dusty/dirty.
• Apr 17 Thu and Apr 24 Thu – SNOW and GLACIER SKILLS (#1: Team travel, passing pro, coiling, etc.; #2 Crevasse Rescue)
  • 5:30-8:00PM/dark - drop-in only if necessary 
  • Franklin Park (North end), ~2000 Chestnut Ave, Yakima (46.5961, -120.5353)
  • Comfortable clothes that can get a little dirty.
• Apr 26 Sat - NAVIGATION
  • 9:00AM - 1:00PM - no drop-in
  • Wilridge Winery, 250 Ehler Rd, Yakima (46.6237, -120.6265)
  • Rain or Shine clothing. Compass, writing utensil, firm surface. Water and snack. Practice rope, cord, and webbing.
• May 03 Sat  – SNOW DAY
  • TBD ~8:00AM-1:00PM - no drop-in
  • White Pass Ski Resort, 48935 US-12, Naches (46.6383, -121.3902)
  • In the snow and sun all day. Gear to be discussed further.
• May 19 Mon - FINAL SKILLS TEST & KNOWLEDG TEST
  • 6:30-8:30PM - drop-in only if necessary
  • Chesterley Park, central covered shelter (parking on N/NW near aquatic center), ~3700 River Rd, Yakima
  • Rain or Shine clothing. Writing utensil, firm surface. Cord and webbing.
• Jun 14 Sat (TBD, could change depending on snow conditions) – GLACIER DAY
  • TBD ~7:00AM-3:00PM - no drop-in
  • Paradise, Mt. Rainier NP (46.7857, -121.73540)
  • In the snow and sun all day. Gear to be discussed further.

 

QUESTIONS:
Daniel Mick - BMC Coordinator
bmc@cwmr.org
503-954-6699