Welcome to 2021 BMC Registration

Overview
The Skagit Alpine Club usually runs an 8 week Basic Mountaineering Course annually. The course typically covers basic rock climbing and mountaineering skills. However, due to the global pandemic, our regular 8 week course will not be offered. We will offer individual one-week courses that can be taken separately or together, equal to the first four weeks of our typical course. This is to provide increased safety for students and instructors and continue to offer opportunities for students to learn basic rock and snow skills in small groups.

Important Course Dates
Registration Opens: January 15th at 10 am
Virtual Information session: Thursday, February 25th at 7pm
Registration Closes: April 10th
First Course starts: May 6th

Course Offerings
Each course can be registered for separately, and includes one weekday evening session to introduce skills and cover important information, followed by a weekend day trip to practice skills in the field. Weekday sessions will be located outdoors, and undercover as much as possible. Weekend sessions will typically be planned for Saturday, but will be weather dependent and may be moved to Sunday. Participants will be registered for one session that includes a weekday session and weekend outing of the same week. Participants must show basic skills competence during weekday session prior to weekend outing.

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Fitness Levels Each outing will be physically demanding and requires strong hiking fitness and endurance. We recommend that all students have weeks of regular hiking experience with more than 1,000ft of elevation gain each hike. Strength training experience is also recommended.

Course Fees Each course includes one weekday course and one weekend outing. All courses begin at $200 per course. Registering for two or three courses will decrease the cost of each course to $180. Registering for all four courses (Rock 1 & 2, Snow 1 & 2) will discount each course to $150/course. Discounts can only be provided across one participant’s registration.

Discounts:
  • 2 course discount: $40.00 off total
  • 3 course discount: $60.00 off total
  • 4 course discount: $200.00 off total

All Course registrations include a one-year membership to the Skagit Alpine Club meetings, newsletters, and events.

COVID Notice
All courses are subject to change based on Washington SafeStart protocols. If courses are cancelled based on COVID restrictions, a full refund will be provided. COVID requirements will be strictly adhered to throughout courses, including wearing masks when in proximity of other people to maintain safety for instructors and students. Students may be asked to leave if not adhering to policies. Students will be asked to complete a COVID Waiver for each course.

Cancellation & Refund Policy
If courses are cancelled based on COVID restrictions, a full refund will be provided. Courses that do not meet the minimum enrollment may be cancelled with full refund or offer transfers to other course dates.

Cancellations by a participant more than 2 weeks before to the start of a course will be refunded minus a $25 cancellation fee per course. Cancellations by a participant within 2 weeks of the start of a course will not receive a refund.

Students experiencing any possible symptoms of COVID or exposed to anyone with COVID symptoms should report them immediately. Students will get a full refund or transfer to a later course if an isolated quarantine period and negative COVID test are confirmed.