Everett Mountaineers Alpine Scrambling - Rock Field Trip

April 17-18, 2010
The Everett Branch of the Mountaineers offers a course in basic Alpine Scrambling each spring. Scrambling is commonly defined as a bridge activity between trail hiking and technical climbing. Even the most fearsome of the Cascade peaks usually offer both scramble and technical routes. The degree of difficulty varies greatly from peak to peak, but scramble trips usually include cross country travel over rough terrain, some exposure, route finding/navigation/weather issues and rock or snow ascents to reach the summit. They don't involve glacier travel or ascents via technical terrain.

The rock field trip, held across from Eight Mile Camp on Icicle Creek (Leavenworth), is the second of four required to complete the course.

This year the field trip was held in two sessions, to accomodate the large class. On Saturday I was able to lead a group of students and on Sunday helped instruct at one of the four stations. The pictures that follow are a mix of both days, grouped by activity rather than day and should be representative of what's covered.

"The •Everett Mountaineers Alpine Scrambling Course• provides instruction on how to travel safely off-trail and scramble to mountain summits. Most Northwest mountain summits are accessible by scramble routes. Scrambles are typically strenuous, and usually involve off-trail travel over rock, snow, or brush. The scramble course provides a program of instruction about proper equipment, clothing, navigation, route-finding, avalanche avoidance, weather awareness, rock and off-trail scrambling, wilderness ethics, snow travel, ice axe arrest, and glissade techniques. The course goal is to teach the skills necessary to scramble enjoyably while minimizing risk."