Intro to Alpine Climbing

The Experience: This course bridges the gap between summer trail hiking and true mountaineering. We head up to a high-alpine bowl in the Front Range, bypassing the dry trails to get your boots immediately into the snow. The day is highly interactive and focused entirely on building a solid foundation. You will learn the broad mechanics of efficient pacing, how to manage your balance and footwork on varying snow conditions, and the proper use of your ice axe and crampons. We spend the afternoon running self-arrest drills on a safe runout, teaching you the overarching concepts of how to catch a slip and control a fall in different scenarios. By the end of the day, you will understand how to read snow conditions, manage your energy, and move confidently on 30- to 40-degree snowpack. Who This Is Best For: The avid summer backpacker who looks up at snow-capped peaks and wishes the season didn't have to end in October. This is for the aspiring alpinist who dreams of early-season summits but feels intimidated by the transition from dirt trails to steep snowpack, and wants to confidently unlock the mountains year-round.