smiley j

The Skagit Alpine Club is offering two different courses this year: an 8-week Basic Mountaineering Course and a 1-week Introduction to Snow Travel Course. The Basic Mountaineering Course is designed to teach the basics of climbing in the alpine environment. The course consists of both classroom sessions and outings in a variety locations, and is taught entirely by volunteers. No previous mountaineering experience is required, but students are expected to have a minimum level of fitness and to commit to all required coursework. Course cost is $550 ($500 for registration prior to February 1). The Introduction to Snow Travel Course addresses basic skills and safety using ice axes, basic avalanche awareness and snow travel practice. The course is open to all students, and no previous experience with snow travel is necessary. Course cost is $200. All course registrations include a one-year membership to the Skagit Alpine Club, which includes monthly meetings, newsletters, and events. Important Dates: Registration Opens: January 2nd Information session: January 19th 7:30 pm PST - Zoom Meeting Early Registration Closes: February 1st Registration Closes: March 1st For more information, please visit the Skagit Alpine Club BMC website at https://bmc.skagitalpineclub.com/

Update: after trying on boots at a few different shops, I settled on the Mammut Magic High GTX. Took them on a six mile break-in and they were fantastic. Hopefully they'll be solid for my purposes. Now for some crampons......

The Charmoz was only big as far as the actual length (Bellingham REI didn't have my exact size) and not width or any nuanced aspect of the boot. I'm gonna check out Ascent Outdoors (when did they change their name? I only moved from Seattle a couple years ago!) and Backcountry Essentials in Bham and see what I can come up with. I've had a few people tell me to just throw down on something like a LS Nepal Evo or Arc'teryx Acrux AR but as a beginning climber I'm not sure I'd need a boot like that for a few seasons....... Especially with the skiing addiction occupying my winters.

Hi all. After over a decade of lurking and life (and excuses) getting in the way I'm taking a club course in the Spring. I have a lot of the required gear already from backpacking and scrambling, but the boot thing is starting to give me paralysis by analysis! For reasons of personal bias I'm leaning towards a leather boot like the LS Makalu, but I've also tried on a pair of Scarpa Charmoz that was unfortunately too big, but it seemed like a good boot in spite of being mostly synthetic. Just not sure what I should be looking for as far as a 3-season North Cascades boot. Any tips, wisdom, etc.. would be greatly appreciated 'cause my brain is fried from online boot research.

I've been really happy with BackCountry Navigator GPS PRO. I use it on my Galaxy S4 and it's been really useful. Obviously it's not going to pinpoint your location to within a few feet, and the map you choose to use has it's own limitations, but overall I see no need to buy a standalone GPS with the advances in smartphone technology. Especially with a rugged case.

Just curious as to how many of you out there are self-taught mountaineers? By self-taught I mean you never took a course with one of the local climbing clubs, or with a guide service. I'm an experienced hiker, have a very good fitness level, and have good off-trail/scrambling skills. I'd like to take things to the next level, but my profession doesn't offer me the flexibility of schedule to take a course with one of the local climbing clubs, and though I could piece my gear together, I don't have the funds to just plunk down a grand+ on a guide service course. So if you went it on your own, how did you do it? Yes, I have a copy of "Freedom of the Hills". I'm hesitant to start begging on the "Partners Needed" forum, but I've entertained the thought...... And yes, I joined a long time ago for this to be my first post! Long Time Lurker here!