This last week I had my first lecture with the Everett Mountaineers for their Alpine Scrambling Course. It was a full house with about 35 students and 8 leaders but I am glad I am taking it here and not in Seattle. I hear they have up to 200 students!
Going around the room it seemed like a lot of us have scrambling experience but are hoping to learn more. I want to be able to feel more confident when I am by myself. I’m tired of getting to within 30 feet of a summit and stopping because I know it is beyond my ability (or comfort level).
I’ve been studying diligently. Okay, not really. But I have had the books on the bed for night time reading and I did go over the reading material listed in the student handbook. I had picked up these books when I took their navigation course a few years ago and so the material is familiar. Lots of classic advise for enjoying the outdoors.
The lecture went like most of them do, outlining the course and reminding folks about the commitment to classes, field trips, a wilderness first aid course, stewardship and scrambles all before October. Not that I needed the reminder, I’m already a little stressed about making it all work. I have it figured out right now but I could be in trouble if they do any more rescheduling. Free weekends are sparse between now and summer with crosscut chainsaw certification and everything else pertaining to trail work.
We also went over the basics like the 10 Essentials and gear. It’s always good to not assume everyone knows what these are or what they might look like in your pack. I also liked how they emphasized that there is room for personalization. Carry what works for you. Good advice! I think at this point, all I still need is the climbing helmet. And maybe boots.
Of course, I couldn’t help but ask about the boots and approach shoes. I wear Altra Lone Peaks and Luna Sandals almost exclusively on my hikes (and scrambles) and the thought of wearing mountaineering boots alone makes my feet hurt. And it’s one of the reasons I have been reluctant to take this class.
I’m also cheap. Why buy something for a class I am most likely never going to wear on actual scrambles? Even though it appeared that individual leaders do wear approach shoes (shoes you wear getting TO a scramble), the leaders as a whole said there would not be approach shoes allowed on our field trips. Uggh.
Now, I have to decide if the boots I picked up at a thrift store will be good enough or do I spend a lot of time and money trying to find the least restrictive boots I can?
I also asked about maps. USGS are the best for off trail travel because of their detail but Green Trails are what I have most of. The answer was that USGS are required so I was off to the map store. Not complaining, who can’t use more maps? But they aren’t kidding when they joke about “opening your wallet” when you sign up for these courses.
USGS maps are larger than Green Trails, so my friend Gwen who is the manager at the Alderwood store showed me how to fold the maps for best use in the field. She did tell me that the Seattle store will laminate them for you with the folds which is good to know if I decide to purchase more of these.
We will have two more lectures and then our first field trip in the beginning of April. I plan to go out with the bf and practice up on my navigation skills in the upcoming weeks. Not that I haven’t been practicing them like in the Eagle Cap Wilderness or on a trip to Cow Heaven or that time I was “lost” off trail in Wallace Falls State Park looking for a boot path to another lake. But it doesn’t hurt to refresh myself on what I am rereading in the books, does it? I definitely don’t want to be THAT GUY!
Now to make sure I get enough conditioning in before that first rock scramble field trip…
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