Basic Mountaineering Class (BMC)
The BOEALPS Basic Mountaineering Class (BMC) is a great opportunity to learn the skills that are necessary for basic competence in alpine travel. This course covers at an introductory level everything from proper clothing and route finding to crevasse rescue and glacier travel. If you are new to the outdoors or have outdoor experience but lack the training to go with it, then this course is a must for you!
Class sessions are held on Wednesday evenings, with one-day weekend outings (either Saturday or Sunday) from February through June. Note that two full weekend overnight outings are also scheduled during the class (snow camping and graduation climb). See the club Course Overview Page for the most current dates!
Our most common question is whether students are required to attend all lectures and outings. The answer is YES. Exceptions may be made for an emergency or work, but personal trips and events are not excusable. However, we still invite everyone to apply, but you must note if there is a conflict with a lecture or outing on your application. Final decision will be made by the head instructor.
The next most common question is what the likelihood of getting into the course is, especially as a non-Boeing applicant. As a Boeing club, the majority of students are required to be Boeing, but we do accept a smaller amount of non-Boeing applicants every year. We encourage everyone to provide lots of detail in their application and be available for all class lectures and outings!
2025 Course Details
2025 Class Details Now Available!
See Course Overview Page for current 2025 outing schedule for all courses.
Invitation to Instructors
- Lecture Dates: February thru early June
- Lecture Location: Boeing 2-22 Building
- Outing Dates: March thru June
- Outing Location: Varies - mountains within WA state
- Application Period: January 1st - 26th, 2025
- Information Session: Jan 22nd, 2025
- Fitness Evaluation: Feb 1st, 2025
- Student Decisions: Feb 5th, 2025
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Course Fee: $440 BOEALPS member / $540 guest
Includes $100 refundable deposit due with application - Course Policy
- Course Syllabus
- Course Gear List
- Fitness Evaluation
If you are interested and have the experience necessary to instruct the BOEALPS Basic Mountaineering Class (BMC), we accept instructor applications in December and January. Email bmc@boealps.org for more details.
Course FAQs
BMC does not have any prerequisite climbing skills, this is a course covering the basics. It is helpful, but not required, to have some hiking and camping experience.
As part of the application process, a fitness evaluation will be required for all students and instructors.
The fitness evaluation is designed to help better balance the BMC teams with a range of fitness levels. This will help all students to receive a nearly identical mountaineering learning experience regardless of team.
Additionally, it will give you an evaluation of your own fitness before the class starts, and an idea of the exertion expected on the class outings.
Reference the Fitness Evaluation for more details.
In addition to the course fee of $440 for BOEALPS members or $540 for BOEALPS guests, students will need to provide two textbooks (approx $55), all the necessary gear and technical clothing in the gear list (perhaps $500-$2000) and purchase an annual Mt Rainier Climbing Pass ($65 in 2023).
Gas for driving to the trailheads each weekend and dinner with the team after the climbs also can add up, so plan accordingly.
Yes. In-person attendance at every lecture is required. If you have a conflict for one or more lecture, you must note this on your application. Final decision is made by the head instructor.
YES. If you have a conflict for one or more weekend outings, you must note this on your application. Final decision is made by the head instructor.
No, we recommend waiting until after the first lecture to purchase gear to ensure you know the appropriate gear choices for this course. We also are often able to work with local gear shops to get deals for our students.
Please see the BMC Course Policy document for details.
Generally, you can cancel with a full refund prior to class starting.
The application window opens January 1st and remains open until January 26th. All applications submitted during the window are considered. A first round of notifications will be sent on or before January 28th. Applicants advancing to round 2 of the selection process will be invited to attend the mandatory fitness evaluation, which will be February 1st. We will notify applicants of final acceptance or regrets on or before February 5th.
A copy of the application will be available on this page in December for those who would like extra time to prepare their answers.
As BMC is a strenuous and physically demanding course, we ask that all applicants hike the Mt. Si trail with a 20lb pack as part of their application process. The official class fitness evaluation is scheduled for Saturday, February 1, 2025 (an email with further details will be sent to applicants). We will time the hike from leaving the parking lot until the trail leaves the woods and reaches the pile of boulders. This time will ideally be around 2 hours, perhaps a little longer if the trail is icy (we only time the ascent, not the round-trip). Applicants whose time is substantially slower will not be considered for the course this year, but will be welcome to apply again next year.
The fitness evaluation is not a race and having a fast time will not guarantee a spot in the course. Rather, it is only designed to ensure students meet a minimum baseline of fitness so that they will have the best chance of success in this strenuous course.