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 winter: Third Friday of the month from 6 to 9 p.m.
During summer:Third Wednesdays of the month 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 15th, 2013 @ Mazama Lodge
Field Session: Saturday, March 16 & 17, 2013 @ Mount Hood
Taught by: Forest McBrian (http://www.forestmcbrian.com), 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 More on the Level 1 Avalanche Skillbuilder link online application under the class description. More on the Level 1 Avalanche Skill Builder Class

(If these dates don’t work for you, check out the avalanche classes offered by MountainSavvy.)

Crevasse Rescue

Spring Session 1:
Lecture: April 1st, 2013 @ Mazama Mountaineering Center
Field Session: April 6th, 2013 @ Mount Hood

Spring Session 2:
Lecture: April 29th, 2013 @ Mazama Mountaineering Center
Field Session:May 4th, 2013 @ Mount Hood

Summer Session:
Lecture: June 3rd, 2013, Mazama Mountaineering Center
Field Session: June 8th, 2013, 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: 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 26, 2013 @ Mazama Mountaineering Center
Field Session: March 2-3, 2013 @ 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:Tuesday June 4, 2013, at Mazama Mountaineering Center
Field Session: Sunday June 9, 2013 at Rocky Butte Park, Portland
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: at the MMC
Field Session: at the Lodge

Spring Session
Lecture:
Field Session:
Taught by:  
Cost:  $40 members,  $50 non members
                         
Taught by:
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

Fall Session
Sunday Nov 11 2012, 8am-6pm, Mazama Mountaineering Center and Hamilton Island

Winter Session
Sunday Feb 17 2013, 8am-6pm, Mazama Mountaineering Center and Hamilton Island

Spring Session
Sunday May 5 2013, 8am-6pm, Mazama Mountaineering Center and Hamilton Island

Taught by: John Godino, Josh Lockerby and the Mazama Expedition Committee
Description: This class covers basic map and compass skills for backcountry navigation.  The material is slightly more advanced than that covered in the Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP) class.  Cost: $50 members, $75 non-members
More on the Wilderness Navigation Map and Compass Skill Builder Class

Wilderness Navigation - GPS

Spring Session
Sunday May 17 2013, 9am-3pm, Mazama Mountaineering Center and a nearby local park TBD

Taught by: Laura Stockton
Description: This class covers basic GPS skills for backcountry navigation with a mix of classroom theory, practice, hands on in a local park.
Cost: $50 members, $75 non-members
More on the Wilderness Navigation GPS Skill Builder Class

Ice Climbing

Lecture:Wed Oct 3, 2012, Mazama Mountaineering Center
Field Session: Saturday Oct 6 OR Sunday Oct 7 2012, Mt. Hood
Taught by: Mazama Climbing Committee
Description: This class covers the elemental skills of Alpine ice climbing.  A one evening lecture is followed by a one-day session of top rope ice climbing on either the Eliot Glacier or White River Glacier on Mount Hood.  (Note:  a women’s only class is offered on Saturday on the White River glacier.  A field session on the Elliot Glacier on Sunday Oct 7 is scheduled to handle overflow applications.
Cost: $50 members, $75 non-members
More on the Ice Climbing 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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