Please re-read the course description on the prior page, making sure to click the "MORE +" button. The paragraphs on that page have probably changed since you read them last. Also please confirm again that you don't have any date conflicts preventing you from attending at least one of each workshop and field trip.

This course is a big time commitment and requires a lot of effort and organization, and it may take you way out of your comfort zone. Also you should be motivated to complete this course for the right reasons, please don't take this course if you're only doing it to be with a friend or spouse. Also there is more to this course than just passing the listed workshops and field trips: ■There will be reading assignments and quizzes from the "Freedom" textbook ■Practice nights will be held during the course to help you learn the material taught at the field trips ■A required conditioning hike led by one of our instructors is required in late February up a trail somewhere along I-90 corridor OR DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS, a hike can be completed solo as long as the track is recorded and sent to us■Other hikes during the course to get into climbing shape and stay in climbing shape (more details about those hikes in the months ahead).

Unlike other climbing organization, the Mountaineers is not a guide service. This means you'll need to step up and take responsibility for yourself when it comes to safety, learning the skills, being prepared, etc. Ideally you'll also help other students in the course when needed.

Depending on what gear you already own you might need to spend hundreds of dollars buying climbing gear such as: ■Off-trail gear (mountaineering boots, helmet, ice ax, warm clothes, waterproof outer layer, headlamp, etc.) ■Harness gear (harness, carabiners, pulley, belay device, personal anchor, webbing, etc.) ■Crampons (aluminum ones work great) ■Sleeping gear (sleeping bag, sleeping pad, pillow, etc.) ■Backpack (you might need a larger one) ■Shareable group gear (tent, stove, water filter, shovel, picket, etc.).

Glacier climbs are long and strenuous, with lots of elevation gain and lots of miles. Most glacier climbs are 2-day trips so you'll be carrying a heavy overnight backpack containing all of the gear listed above along with your food, water, a rope, etc. Expect a 35+ pound backpack. The standard Mountaineers fitness test is hiking to the base of the Mount Si Haystack (3200 feet gain) in 2 hours or less while carrying 15% of your body weight. But a more realistic test for this course might be hiking to the base of the Mount Si Haystack with a 35+ pound backpack in 3+ hours on Saturday afternoon and then again on Sunday morning. There will be a required untimed practice conditioner as part of this course in late February to assess your level of fitness, and a more official one later in the course, but you don't have to wait until then to get into shape.

Most glacier climbs are 2-day trips. Day 1 is normally climbing about 2/3 of the way then setting up camp, usually on snow. After dinner the group melts snow for water then goes to bed while it's still light out. On day 2 everyone wakes up around 3 am (aka "an alpine start"), eats breakfast, gets ready in the cold/dark/snow, then leaves camp heading for the summit roped up in the dark with headlamps. For example Mount Rainier is really long so most groups leave camp around 11pm or midnight.

To graduate from the course you will need 4 other badges in your profile. The 4 badges are: Wilderness Navigation, Wilderness First Aid, Stewardship, and Low-Impact Recreation (aka the Leave No Trace quiz). Navigation and First Aid expire after 36 months and Stewardship expires after 12 months. You can hover over the badges in your profile and the popup will tell you when they expire. Note that you need to have these badges active in your profile at the time you apply to graduate from the Basic Glacier Travel Course. If you need these badges then sign up for these courses ASAP. These badges can be taken with other Mountaineers branches, not just with Seattle. IMPORTANT NOTE: Seattle's Wilderness Navigation courses do NOT run all year long.