Skill Builders

Want to learn some crucial mountaineering skills like avalanche awareness, crevasse rescue, navigation or anchors, but don’t have the time, cash, or energy for an intensive year long class?  Then check out Mazamas Skill Builders!

These classes and clinics are generally taught by experienced Mazama volunteers and are designed to teach, in one evening (or day) of lecture and one or two days of field practice, some of the essential skills needed to take your climbing to the next level.  These classes compliment the longer and more comprehensive courses we teach in the Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced schools.  For those of you with a busy schedule who want to learn a specific skill, we hope these classes and clinics will suit your needs and inspire you to reach your climbing goals!

Basic Rock Skills

Dates and Time:
During summer: Wednesday evenings, May 18, June 15, July 20, August 17, September 21, 2011 from 6 to 9 p.m.
During winter: Friday evenings, November 18, 2011 January 20, 2012 February 17, 2012 March 16, 2012 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Description:Basic rock climbing skills such as knots, tying in, climbing commands, belaying, rappelling, prusiking, passing protection on a fixed line, and cleaning a top rope anchor.
Cost: $15/evening clinic

More Information

Learn to Belay Clinic

Clinic Date and Time: October 13, 2011, 6:30pm
Mazamas Mountaineering Center

Description: Interested in getting into indoor rock climbing, but don’t know the ropes?  Or need a quick review?  As a prelude to the Mazama Climb Night winter season, the Education Committee will be sponsoring a one-evening class teaching you the basics on how to safely belay a partner on the MMC’s new training wall.  No prior climbing experience is necessary;  beginners are welcome.  Students will need to bring a climbing harness. Learn to Belay is a single evening class which will be held at the Mazama Mountaineering Center.  This class will cover the basic skills needed to safely belay a partner at a rock gym.  We will cover basic belay techniques: including braking, taking in & feeding out rope in a controlled manner, lowering and the importance of communication between the belayer and the climber.  We will strive to have a 2/1 student/instructor ratio or better - and provide lots of hands-on practice and individual attention during the class.
Note:  This class is tailored for climbing at a rock gym and, while some skills are applicable, does not teach everything one should know for top-rope climbing outdoors.  Check out the Mazamas Basic Climbers Education Program and Intermediate Climbing School for more comprehensive instruction in this area.
Cost: $15 members, $25 non-members. To register fill out the Learn to Belay Skill Builder Application by following the link below to the Learn to Belay Skill Builder page.
More on the Learn to Belay Skill Builder Class

Level 1 Avalanche

Lecture: Friday, March 16th 2012 @ Mazama Lodge
Field Session: Saturday March 17 & 18,  2012 @ Mount Hood
Taught by: Glenn Kessler, sponsored by the Mazama Ski Mountaineering Committee

Description: This class will cover the essentials of avalanche avoidance and rescue.  We’ll cover terrain analysis for safe travel, weather, snowpack analysis, routefinding in avalanche country, practice searches with avalanche beacons (beacons provided) and how you can better determine a “Go / No-go” decision. This is a great class for anyone interested in backcountry skiing or snow climbing.  This class will issue a Level 1 certificate, the nationally recognized standard for recreational avalanche training.
Cost: $195 members, $235 non-members.  To register follow the directions to our online application under the class description. (If these dates don’t work for you, check out the avalanche classes offered by MountainSavvy.)
More on the Level 1 Avalanche Skill Builder Class

Crevasse Rescue

Spring Session:
Lecture: April 5th, 2012 @ Mazama Mountaineering Center
Field Session: April 7th, 2012 @ Mount Hood

Lecture: May 3rd, 2012 @ Mazama Mountaineering Center
Field Session:May 5th, 2012 @ Mount Hood

Summer Session:
Lecture: June 7th, 2012, Mazama Mountaineering Center
Field Session: June 9th, 2012, Mount Hood

Minimum registration of 15 students required to hold this session; if we do not get the required number of applicants you will receive a full refund.

Taught by: Terry Donahe and the Mazamas Expedition Committee
Description: This class will cover self and team crevasse rescue, including crevasse avoidance, roping up for crevasse travel, rigging your harness and ascenders, ascending out of a crevasse, proper rescue procedure, and extensive practice of 2:1 and 3:1 hoisting systems.
Cost: $50 members, $75 non-members
More on the Crevasse Rescue Skill Builder Class

Snow Camping

Lecture: February 28, 2012 @ Mazama Mountaineering Center
Field Session: March 3-4, 2012 @ Mount Hood
Taught by: Mazama Expedition Committee
Description: This class will teach the elemental skills of snow camping.  The field session will include camp selection, snow walls, snow shelters, cooking tents, and latrines. An overnight stay is recommended but not required.
Cost: $50 members, $75 non-members.  To register follow the directions to our online application under the class description.
More on the Snow Camping Skill Builder Class

Rock Anchors

Lecture:Thursday June 21, 2012 @ Mazama Mountaineering Center
Field Session: Sunday June 24, 2012 @ Lewis and Clark State Park, Troutdale OR
Taught by: Mazama Climbing Committee
Description: This class will cover rock anchors, including evaluating anchors, building top rope anchors, sport anchors (bolts) rappel anchors, and have lots of hands on practice building gear anchors. Note: This class is limited to anchor building, and does NOT teach the skills necessary to lead rock climbs.  Check out the Mazamas Advanced Rock program for more comprehensive rock climbing instruction.
Cost: $50 members, $75 non-members
More on the Rock Anchor Skill Builder Class

Mountain Photography 101

Fall Session
Lecture: Thursday, September 22, 2011, 6:30PM to 9:00PM at the MMC
Field Session: Saturday, September 24, 2011, 9:00AM to 3:00PM at the Lodge

Spring Session
Lecture: Wednesday February 8th, 6:30PM to 9:00 PM at the MMC
Field Session: Saturday, February 11, 9:00AM to 3:00 PM at the Lodge
Taught by: Dean Berry  
Cost:  $40 members,  $50 non members
                         
Taught by: Dean Berry
Description: Do you want to improve the quality of the pictures you take while on a Mazama trip?  Does taking pictures in the snow result in dark exposures?  Learn why and when your camera lies to you.  Beginners to advanced students.  Subjects include basic camera operation, exposure, lighting, composition, flash,lens choice and much more.
More on the Mountain Photography Skill Builder Class

Wilderness Navigation - Map, Compass and GPS

Fall Session
Lecture 1: (Map and Compass) Tuesday, November 8, 2011, Mazama Mountaineering Center
Lecture 2: (GPS) Thursday, November 10, 2011, Mazama Mountaineering Center
Field Session: Saturday, November 12, 2011, Powell Butte or Hamilton Island

Winter Session
Lecture 1: (Map and Compass) Tuesday, Feb 14, 2012, Mazama Mountaineering Center
Lecture 2: (GPS) Thursday, Feb 16, 2012, Mazama Mountaineering Center
Field Session: Saturday, Feb 18, 2012, Powell Butte or Hamilton Island

Spring Session
Lecture 1: (Map and Compass) May 8, 2012, Mazama Mountaineering Center
Lecture 2: (GPS)  May 10, 2012, Mazama Mountaineering Center
Field Session: May 12, 2012, Powell Butte or Hamilton Island

Taught by: John Godino, Josh Lockerby and the Mazama Expedition Committee
Description: This class, in two lectures and a field session, covers basic map and compass skills and how to use a GPS unit for backcountry navigation.  The material is slightly more advanced than that covered in the Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP) class.  Students are expected to have their own GPS unit.
Cost: $50 members, $75 non-members
More on the Wilderness Navigation Skill Builder Class

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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