Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP)

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Important dates for BCEP 2012

Getting into BCEP

BCEP is run entirely by volunteers and normally can accommodate about 220 students. Applicants should consider the following suggestions to increase their chances of admission:

• Join The Mazamas! Priority is given to Mazama members over non-members. To join, visit the membership website. Stop by the MMC between January 3rd and January 5th and Mazamas will waive the $25 initiation fee under the regular membership category, to those registering for BCEP.
• Ensure your schedule is open during the course schedule. Only those that are serious about mountaineering and who have the time to complete the course should apply.
• If you have tried to get into BCEP in the past and failed, you may be given priority for admission for this year’s class. 
• Those attending the BCEP Info Night may be given priority over those who do not.

BCEP Registration/ Policies

The BCEP course fee for 2012 is:

• $325 for members
• $385 for non-members

A registration fee of $50 will be charged to your credit card at the time of submitting your application. The $50 registration fee will be deducted from the total course fee, if accepted. Please carefully review the wait list, refund & cancellation policy.

Application Process

Applications will be accepted ONLINE only. All applicants will be charged a $50 registration fee, which will be deducted from your course fees. Those not accepted into the BCEP 2012 program will be refunded the registration fee by March 30th.

• Registration opens to Mazama members online January 2, 2012, at midnight.
• Info Night attendees will be able to register online January 5, 2012, after receiving a password at the end of the evenings program (approximately at 10pm).
• All other individuals will be able to register online beginning January 6, 2012 at 10pm, if space is still available..

Things to consider:

• This class usually fills after Info Night, so participation is strongly recommended.
• Incomplete applications may not be considered.
• Since enrollment is limited, only those who are serious about mountaineering and who have the time to complete the course should apply.
• Non-members falsely registering as members, will not be accepted.
• Minimum age for students is 15 as of December 31, 2011, (15 & 16 year olds must enroll in the class with a parent or guardian).

Notification Process

All applications will be notified by e-mail on or by Friday, February 17th. Those that are accepted into the program will receive a link for which they will make their final course payment of $275 for members and $335 for non-members. At that time, students may also purchase their required curriculum, the Freedom of the Hills, 8th edition at a discounted student rate of $20 (retail $29.95) and the BCEP Technical T for $25. Course fees covers lectures, field sessions, a student handbook and other study materials. Please carefully review the wait-list, refund & cancellation policy.

Deadline for confirmation and payment into the BCEP program is 5pm on Friday, February 24th, 2012.

Please do not call the Mazama office to ask if you have been accepted or regarding the wait-list. All applicants will be notified on or about February 17, 2012.

Waiting List

The demand for enrollment in BCEP often exceeds the number that can be accepted. If the program fills an e-mail will be sent to students and will be maintained until March 28th. Those placed on the wait-list must notify us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) no later than Friday, February 24th to confirm your name on the wait-list or you will be removed. The confirmed wait-listed applicants will be notified if a spot becomes available between February 18th and March 28th.

Wait-listed students must attend the first lecture, or be dropped from the wait-list. A sign-in sheet will be available, at the entrance of the Jackson Middle School, for those in attendance. We will temporarily assign you to a BCEP team for the after-lecture breakout sessions. Please carefully review the refund & cancellation policy.

Refund & Cancellation Policy

Refunds

• The $50 registration fee will be refunded to all those that are not accepted into the BCEP 2012 course.
• Registration refunds will be provided between April 2 and April 5th, to allow for the wait-listed applicants to still be accepted into the program.
• Refunds are only available 90-days from the date of the credit card transaction.
• Please ensure that you contact us as .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), if you are owed a refund.

Cancellations

• $50 handling fee will be deducted for all cancellations before March 1st.
• $100 cancellation fee will be deducted from March 1st to March 20th, at 5pm.
• No Refunds will be provided (e.g. cancellations/ course withdrawals) after 5pm on March 20th.

To cancel or withdrawal from BCEP, immediately notify the .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). This will allow us to make room for those on the waitlist.

BCEP Information Night

Information Night for BCEP will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 7:30pm at the Mazama Mountaineering Center (Click here for a Map to the MMC). This is a great opportunity to get your questions answered! We will have past BCEP graduates at Info Night who will share their experiences, a slide show with pictures showing what you can expect at field sessions, and a question and answer session where you can ask your questions.

Attendees will be provided a password at the end of the evening. This allows non-members a 24-hr period to register online prior to registration being open to everyone. Online registration will be available at the end of the evenings program and the acceptance will be a lottery style drawing for this initial period, NOT a first come first serve.  Everyone will be allowed 24 hours!

This class usually fills after info night so participation is strongly recommended! If space is still available, at 10:00pm, on Friday, January 6th, the online application will be available to everyone!

BCEP Calendar

Information on this calendar is constantly being updated!

Required Curriculum

The required curriculum for the BCEP course is Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, 8th edition.

The curriculum is available from the Mazamas at a discounted student price of $20 (retail price $29.95). Purchasing the book from Mazamas is easy! You may simply purchase your book online when you register for the BCEP course and we will deliver it to you at the first evening lecture. Or, simply stop by the MMC anytime beginning January 3rd and mention that you are a registered BCEP student in order to receive the student discount. If you already have the book, you may use your own for the class.

Class Lectures and Team Discussions

Lecturse will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30pm to 9:15pm at the Jackson Middle School (map). There will be NO lecture held on Tuesday, April 17th.
Team discussions will follow the lectures each evening. Additional activities may be scheduled prior to the class, and are optional but recommended (e.g. videos, navigation practice).

Field Sessions

One half-day rock climbing skill day will be held at the MMC’s new climbing wall. The indoor rock climbing session is usually held on a Saturday or Sunday morning and runs between 3 to 5 hours. These are scheduled by the BCEP team leader.

Two all-day field sessions will be held to practice rock climbing and basic snow skills.  The rock climbing field session will be held at Horsethief Butte, Washington (near The Dalles), and the snow field session will be held on Mt. Hood near Timberline Lodge. Transportation is not provided, and carpooling is strongly encouraged.

As prerequisites to these sessions, each team leader will schedule sessions on knot tying, belaying and rappel techniques. If you miss a technique or field session with your team, it is usually possible to make it up with another team, but students must plan ahead for this so they do not miss important sessions.

Conditioning Hikes & Other Activities

Each team leader will schedule several conditioning hikes. Participation in at least four hikes is required for completion of BCEP. The purpose of the hikes is to challenge and motivate physical conditioning and to acquaint students with wilderness travel, their fellow team members and leaders. Most hikes are in the Columbia River Gorge and involve trail mileage and altitude gain similar to that of a Cascade mountain climb. Transportation is not provided, and carpooling is strongly encouraged. Additional activities may be offered at the team leader’s discretion. Participation in these activities will enhance enjoyment of the program but is not required.

BCEP Course Format and Requirements

• Weeknight lectures will be held at the Jackson Middle School between 6:30pm to 9:15pm. The evening sessions include lectures and team discussions. The team break-out sessions (discussions) will vary and may include things such as how to pack a backpack, map & compass skills, practice your kntos, some belay practice time and many other fun activities. Students should prepare for lectures by reading assigned text(s) in Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills (8th edition) and other materials.
• Field session on rock climbing skills at the MMC’s new climbing wall (usually 3 - 5 hours on a weekend morning, or weeknight, scheduled by team leader)
• Field session on rock climbing skills at Horsethief Butte (near The Dalles, all day Saturday or Sunday)
• Field session on snow climbing skills (at Mt. Hood, all day Saturday or Sunday)
• Four conditioning hikes (most are all day Saturday or Sunday)
• A knots and belay practice session (weekday evening scheduled by team leader)
• Mt Tabor navigation practice course (optional (weekday evening scheduled by team leader))
• A minimum score of 75% on the final exam
• Successful completion of the final skills test.

Graduates receive a Certificate of Completion and become eligible for A and B level Mazama climbs.

Gear and Equipment

Please wait until the class begins before you do a big gear purchase, as leader recommendations and gear discounts from local shops may influence your choices.  Note that crampons, ice axe, helmets and plastic mountaineering boots may be rented from local outdoor shops, and you might be able to borrow some of this gear.

Need to own or be able to borrow

• Windproof / rainproof parka
• Backpack
• Multiple layers of non-cotton clothing (polypro, shorts, socks, fleeces, gloves, hat, raingear, etc.)
• Hiking Boots or trail shoes
• Water bottle

Items that may be rented

• Crampons
• Helmet
• Ice axeBoots for snow session that are crampon compatible

Need to purchase or borrow

• Climbing harness
• carabiners, prusik cord, webbing, belay device

The following table is intended to give an idea of costs associated with taking BCEP. Purchase and rental costs provided below are approximate; sales, special packages, and discounts may lower costs. Actual costs to the student will vary upon their individual choice of purchase (new or used), rent, or borrow. Please wait until after the first class before making any purchasing decisions! Don’t forget, in addition to gear, there will be costs associated with carpooling to hikes and field sessions, and your team may go to pubs or restaurants following hikes and field sessions.

BCEP History and Leadership

The Mazamas, a non-profit organization, have been offering similar versions of the Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP) since the spring of 1950, and are proud of this long tradition.  BCEP is the most popular class offered by Mazamas.  We are not a professional guide service or outfitter, but hold ourselves to high standards of outdoor safety and training.

The large numbers of educators in BCEP, including the team leaders, lecturers, instructors, coordinators, etc., are all volunteers who do it for the enjoyment of climbing and satisfaction of teaching.  Over 4,000 hours of volunteer time are needed to run the BCEP class!  Mountaineering is a sport with a long tradition of teaching and mentorship, and our leaders are happy to pass on to others the instruction and guidance they once received themselves. 

The lead coordinator for BCEP 2012 is Paul Underwood, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

BCEP Objectives and Skills

The objective of BCEP is to prepare students physically and mentally to be safe team members on Mazamas “A” and “B” level climbs, and to provide a foundation for continuing mountaineering education and experience.

The program will expose you to the rigors of conditioning hikes in the Columbia Gorge and elsewhere. These hikes are designed to make you fit enough for the physical challenges of mountain climbing. You’ll participate in field sessions that will provide instruction in snow and rock climbing techniques. Lectures will provide the foundation for participation in the field sessions, and enable you to learn from some of our most experienced climbers.

Upon successful graduation from the class, you will receive a frame-ready Mazamas Basic Climbing Education Program graduation certificate.

Climbs

The Mazamas offer more than 350 climbs a year, of varying difficulty. Anyone, members and non-members, may apply for these climbs. Mazama leaders select their climb party from those who have the skills and training for that particular climb. BCEP graduates will typically have acquired the skills required for Mazama “A” or “B” level climbs including peaks such as Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Mount St. Helens, South and Middle Sister, Curtis Gilbert, Mt. Thielsen, among others. Please see these links for more info on the Mazamas climbing program and some suggested peaks for BCEP grads.

Facts about BCEP

Typically, more than 250 people apply for the 220+ openings in the class. Each student is assigned to a team of 9-12 students led by a volunteer Mazamas climb leader and several assistants. Students stay in the same team for all course activities. The minimum age for all students is 15 as of December 31, 2011 (15 & 16 year olds must enroll in the class with a parent or guardian).  No prior climbing experience is required, and you do not need to be a Mazama member to take the course.

Mountaineering is physically demanding and the required field training is rigorous. The course is recommended only for those in good physical condition, and who maintain a regular fitness program. Conditioning hikes are a required part of the BCEP program, but should not be the only physical preparation for this course or for climbing.

Individual leaders may schedule additional events such as knot practice, rope techniques, and map and compass navigation.  Please try to clear your weekends during the course and be flexible with your time during the course period in order to get the most out of the class.  This class requires a commitment of your weekends, one dedicated evening for the lecture series and a couple of weeknights for six weeks.  Since enrollment is limited, only those who are serious about mountaineering and who have the time to complete the course should apply. 

More questions . . .

If you have any other class related questions, please feel free to contact us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

USDA Special Use Permit Information and Non-Discrimination Statement

Mazamas Education Programs operate under a special use permit with the Mt. Hood National Forest.

To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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