Welcome to our winter climb season! Here at the Mazamas, winter climbs run from December 1 to April 30. The good news is that, during the winter, the mountains have fewer climbers and more snow. The bad news is that the weather tends to be much less predictable and avalanche danger much greater. Therefore, the Mazamas conduct winter climbs a little differently from those that take place during the summer.
First of all, in order to accommodate the impromptu nature of Winter Climbs, as in “Hey, the weather looks good next Wednesday. Let’s go!” the Climb Application procedure is more flexible:
- View the Intended Winter Climb Schedule
- Choose the climb(s) you wish to apply for.
- Purchase a climb card for each climb you are applying for. (Climb cards don’t expire, so if you don’t use them during the winter, you can use them for summer climbs. Call us at the Mazama Mountaineering Center at 503-227-2345 if you have any questions.)
- Contact the leader for each climb that you would like to apply for. Email them the climb you are interested in, your climb resume, and any reasons why they should include you on their climb.
- Wait for a call/email from the leader letting you know when a climb is planned.
- Don’t panic if you don’t get a call when the sun has been shining for three days; some climb leader have lives and may not be able to climb at every opportunity.
- If you think there is an opportunity to climb, dropping a friendly note asking if they have any plans for upcoming climbs may be a good way to keep yourself in the loop.
- Dropping a friendly note every week is a good way to get yourself perceived as a little jumpy and thus, not an exceptional candidate for a spot on this particular climb.
- If you are available for the climb, let the climb leader know.
- The climb leader should then send you a climb prospectus.
- Arrive promptly at the appointed meeting place.
- Bring a properly completed climb card (no stamp necessary).
- Bring batteries for the transceiver. Unless told otherwise, bring both AA and AAA just to be safe, as different transceivers take different batteries.
Because of increased avalanche danger during the winter climbing season, climb leaders will provide shovels, avalanche probes and transceivers for the climb team. Climb leaders will NOT provide batteries. If you own these tools, please bring them and let the climb leader know that you have them.
Note that grading of climbs is increased for winter.
Codes: (E) = Exploratory, (P)=Provisional Climb. A plus (+) indicates an overnight is involved.
Means of travel: F=foot, SS=snowshoe, MS=Mountain Ski (randonee/telemark).
Prospective climbers should call leaders for additional info and exact dates.
Note: AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVERS MUST BE CARRIED BY ALL CLIMBERS ON ALL WINTER CLIMBS.
Climbers are to furnish their own batteries for the transceivers. Bring 4 Size AAA batteries per climber.