Spring/Summer 2018 Schools Schedule
The Boulder Group of the CMC offers a variety of schools and clinics for our members. All of our schools focus on safety, preparation and stewardship as keys to enjoying the mountains. We believe in fostering teamwork and empowering the learner to make good decisions about safety.
SCHOOL SIGN-UPS: sign up online at www.cmc.org. Login, select Classes from the Calendar, and choose the date that the course you want begins (see below).
PREREQUISITES: When you sign up for a course, be sure and check the prerequisites. If you sign up for a course and do not have the required prerequisites, you will have to drop out of the course and be refunded as per the Refund Policy below.
- Be a current CMC member.
- Be able to attend all of the lectures and all of the field trips.
- Sign the BMS Student Waiver for the Boulder Group
- Have the necessary equipment.[1]
- See this Chart of BMS Prerequisites for what courses have what prerequisites
Notes on prerequisites: [1]. The Club can provide climbing helmets, climbing ropes, climbing hardware, ice axes, snow saws, and some used climbing shoes. Otherwise, you will need to borrow, rent or purchase the equipment. It is advisable to wait until the first lecture of a course before purchasing any equipment, when the instructor can give advice about what to purchase. Some classes also provide discounts at local shops.
REFUND POLICY: Please note that if you have to drop out of a course within 2 weeks of the 1st lecture and there is no wait list or nobody on the wait list is able to fill your space, there will be no refunds! To withdraw from a course, send an email to [protected email address]. There is a $10 handling fee for any refund. Questions? See here
Registration Starts: 2/7/2018 All lectures begin at 6:30pm unless noted otherwise.
Field trip meeting times depend on the class and instructor.
Lecture meeting places vary by class. Brief class descriptions are included below. For more detail and the most up to date information, please search the class calendar at cmc.org.
Quick Links: Hiking Classes Snow Classes Rock School Classes Backpacking Classes BMS Certification Class Description Cost Lectures Field Trips Hiking Classes Wilderness Hiking and Survival Essentials Enhance your preparation, skills, and safety for trips to the backcountry. Included in this class is information on the ten essentials, hazards, wilderness survival, equipment, clothing, trip planning, Leave No Trace (LNT) principles, and briefs on first aid, weather, and nutrition. Concerned about what to do if you unexpectedly have to spend the night in the outdoors? This course will inform you about managing the situation, building fire, shelter, signaling, and finding water. Lecture/discussion is the same for two class sections. One section has Saturday field trip, the other has Sunday trip. Other than the day of the week, the field trips are the same. Topics covered include:
• 10 Essential items or systems to bring with you and their uses
• Selecting packs, equipment, 3 layers of clothing, and boots
• Preparing for possible hazards of backcountry travel
• Organizing a trip
• Leave No Trace practices
• Preview of first aid and handling medical conditions likely in the backcountry. What to do if someone is injured or has hypothermia
• Wilderness Survival
• What to do if you have to spend a night outdoors
• Nutrition
• Weather
Lecture/discussion is the same for two class sections. One section has a Saturday field trip, the other has a Sunday trip. Other than the day of the week, the field trips are the same. Prerequisites: None. Please do not sign up unless you can attend all meetings. No refund within two weeks of first class meeting unless a person on the wait list is able to sign up for the class. $10 handling fee for refunds. People who have registered will be sent an email with information about the meeting location. Please be sure the email address in your membership record is correct. If you do not hear by three days in advance of the course, please contact bhs@cmcboulder.org.
Register here.$45 3/27, 3/29, & 4/3 4/7 or 4/8 Wilderness Navigation Finding your way with a topographical map and compass is fundamental to finding the locations you seek in the wilderness. Having this ability is important for avoiding difficulties and handling changes in plans. This course will describe how to recognize terrain, select routes, identify your location, and navigate. It will describe features of maps including contour lines, symbols, and coordinate systems. The course also will demonstrate techniques for using a map and compass together to adjust for declination, to find and follow bearings, and navigate in adverse conditions. All who travel in the backcountry, including users of electronic devices for navigation, will be able to travel more assuredly and effectively with knowledge from this course. Lecture/discussion is the same for two class sections. One section has a Saturday field trip, the other has a Sunday trip. Other than the day of the week, the field trips are the same. Prerequisites: None, but it is highly recommended that students have taken the course Hiking and Survival Essentials. Please do not sign up unless you can attend all meetings. No refund within two weeks of first class meeting unless a person on the wait list is able to sign up for the class. $10 handling fee for refunds. People who have registered will be sent an email with information about the meeting location. Please be sure the email address in your membership record is correct. If you do not hear by three days in advance of the course, please contact bhs@cmcboulder.org.
Register here.$45 4/10 & 4/17 4/21 or 4/22 Wilderness Route and Trip Planning Here is an opportunity to reinforce and expand beyond what you have been learning in other courses in the School -- Wilderness Hiking and Survival Essentials and Wilderness Navigation. Additional information will be presented about managing trips, planning routes, and following routes. The group will plan and conduct a hike of 3 to 8 miles that will involve off-trail hiking. Learn to plan with your group and adjust the trip based on conditions and resources in the field. Great for your own trips or as background for becoming a CMC trip leader. Prerequisites: Wilderness Hiking and Survival Essentials and Wilderness Navigation. If space is available, others with equivalent background may join -- For this, please contact bhs@cmcboulder.org. No refund within two weeks of first class meeting unless a person on the wait list is able to sign up for the class. $10 handling fee for refunds. People who have registered will be sent an email with information about the meeting location. Please be sure the email address in your membership record is correct. If you do not hear by three days in advance of the course, please contact bhs@cmcboulder.org.
Register here$30 5/22 6/2 Rock School Classes Single Pitch Climbing Single Pitch Climbing is intended for beginner climbers or climbers with some experience in a climbing gym. Focus is on climbing equipment and safety systems, top rope belaying with belay device and Munter hitch, knots used in a single pitch setting, rappelling, and climbing etiquette. Some basic climbing techniques will be introduced and practiced. The goal of this class is to prepare students to climb safely outside on single pitch routes with an experienced partner. At the classroom session you'll have a choice to sign up for Saturday or Sunday field trips. Students are encouraged to enroll in the Top Rope Anchor Clinic as a next step.
Register here.$95 4/26 4/28 & 5/5 Top Rope Anchor Clinic The Top Rope Anchor Clinic is a logical continuation of skills learned in the entry class Single Pitch Climbing. Focus is on climber-belayer communication, anchor building with webbing, static ropes, and sewn slings, and cleaning sport anchors. The goal of this class is to give the newer climber the skills to set top rope anchors using both fixed sport anchors and natural features such as trees and boulders. (Traditional gear anchors are beyond the scope of the class). If the class fills up, you'll have a choice to sign up for the Saturday or Sunday field trip, but if enrollment is limited we'll only have a Saturday field trip.
Register here.$85 5/17 5/19 Rock Self Rescue 1 Rock Self Rescue 1 will prepare students to deal with problems they may encounter during a multi pitch climb. Focus is on new knots, review of rappelling, ascending/descending a rope or performing self-rescue with prussik loops, overcoming a knot or obstacle in a rappel rope, escaping a belay (using a mule knot to tie off an injured climber). Please bring harness, belay device, and prussiks to the lecture! If the class fills up, you'll have a choice to sign up for the Saturday or Sunday field trip, but if enrollment is limited we'll only have a Saturday field trip.
Register here.$90 5/31 6/2 Rock Seconding School This course is intended to prepare students to follow multi pitch routes, both sport and trad. Focus is on the nuances of lead belaying and catching leader falls, top belay, partner communication, removing gear, efficient belay change over, evaluating your leader and how to be a great partner, and additional gear. Sport anchor cleaning will be reviewed. Completion of the Top Rope Anchor Clinic is highly recommended. A discount will be given for students that completed BRS in 2015, as this course is meant to improve on teaching multi-pitch climbing technique over the previous BRS version. If you qualify, send email to brs@cmcboulder.org to request the passcode to use when you register online. If the class fills up, you'll have a choice to sign up for the Saturday or Sunday field trip, but if enrollment is limited we'll only have a Saturday field trip. There will be an optional graduation climb on 6/23
Register here.$125 6/7 6/9 & 6/16 Sport Leading Clinic The Sport Lead Clinic will cover: necessary and optional gear, safety issues to consider before you climb, anchors and evaluating bolts, techniques for the leader (clipping, rope awareness, falling), managing fear, techniques for belaying (how to be a great belayer, boinking), bailing, cleaning anchors, and multi pitch sport (belaying off anchor or with a re-direct, rope management). An optional gym field trip possible depending on class interest. Prerequisites: Refer to the Sport Leading Clinic page.
Registration TBA
$85 Fall Fall Rock Leading School (RLS) RLS is the next step for climbers who have been through BRS and are ready to begin exploring the world of traditional climbing. This course includes one lecture and three field trips which cover anchor building, placement of rock protection, rope drag, fall forces, and mental aspects of being on the "sharp end." Should be able to confidently climb 5.6 or harder on trad lead. Acceptance by RLS application only. Click on the course description link to the left to find the application letter, application and student waivers. Prerequisites: pre-2016 BRS or equivalent experience (post-2016: Rock Self Rescue and Rock Seconding will be required).
Registration TBA$175 Fall Fall Snow Classes Basic Snow Basic snow travel techniques are useful for Colorado peaks in late spring / early summer. Learn about safe ascent and descent of moderate snow slopes using an ice axe, self-arrest and self-belay techniques, and other considerations for snow travel. Helmets and ice axes provided. Prerequisites: Hiking and Survival Essentials or equivalent experience and self-sufficiency in snowy conditions - the ability to learn in a snowy environment including clothing, water and eating.
Register here$60 4/12 4/14 Intermediate Snow Hard snow travel techniques on steep snow/ice. First trip entails roped travel, snow anchors, belaying and self-arrest practice. Second trip focuses on crampon use and doing a snow climb. Techniques useful for CO peaks in mid/late summer. Prerequisites: Basic Snow and Single Pitch Climbing or equivalent experience.
Register here$85 5/10 5/12 & 5/19 Backpacking School Backpacking School Backpacking covers all aspects of overnight trips in the backcountry using equipment and supplies that you carry. Expand the range of your trips and gain independence for visiting or climbing in beautiful and challenging settings. This course builds on information in the courses Wilderness Hiking and Survival Essentials and Wilderness Navigation. You will learn about proper equipment, trip planning, site selection, meals, water, bear-bagging, Leave No Trace principles, and more. For the field trips, choose to go on the 1-nighter and/or the 2-nighter. Prerequisites: Wilderness Hiking and Survival Essentials and Wilderness Navigation. If space is available, others with equivalent background may join -- For this, please contact bhs@cmcboulder.org. When you register, please send email to bhs@cmcboulder.org; with a note about which trips you plan to do, First trip (one night), Second trip (two nights), or both First trip and Second trip. No refund within two weeks of first class meeting unless a person on the wait list is able to sign up for the class. $10 handling fee for refunds. People who have registered will be sent an email with information about the meeting location. Please be sure the email address in your membership record is correct. If you do not hear by three days in advance of the course, please contact bhs@cmcboulder.org.
Register here$75 6/26 7/14-15 (1 night) OR 7/27-29 (2 night) Boulder Mountaineering School (BMS) Certification BMS Certification BMS consists of Wilderness Hiking and Survival Essentials, Wilderness Navigation, BRS, Basic Snow and Intermediate Snow, and these additional requirements: a First Aid/CPR course, participating in a conservation effort and participating in 5 field trips (at least 1 rock and at least 1 snow). See appropriate class listings Questions about a course? Please contact: Hiking Schools Basic Rock School Rock Leading School Basic & Intermediate Snow Top Roping Clinic Sport Leading Clinic