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Getting Started in Tacoma Area

Original Post
AJ Edvardsson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2022 · Points: 0

I just got to Washington State yesterday to start my mountaineering life. I don't have any experience and don't know anyone here. Where should I get started in learning basic mountaineering skills? Thanks!

saign charlestein · · Tacoma WA · Joined Apr 2017 · Points: 2,057

The climbing gym, or the Tacoma mountaineers are both good places to meet people. If you’re wanting to get into mountaineering, the mountaineers have a bunch of courses. A bit too rule oriented for me, but a good place to meet people and learn about the mountains 

Tyler Stockdale · · Joshua Tree · Joined Oct 2017 · Points: 613

Take a course / classes, or hire a guide to teach you.

The mountaineers, BOEALPS, and Washington Alpine Club all offer good club based classes, but you are too far into the season to apply for this year.

Better to wait and apply in the fall, and spend your summer hiking, rock scrambling, and gym / outdoor climbing. 

Or, hire a guide!

Chris Nunley · · Spokane, WA · Joined Jul 2020 · Points: 184

x2 on joining your local mountaineering club and attending their events. A basic wilderness first aid course is also a good idea.

It is recommended to start with backpacking as it is a foundational skill for mountaineering. Go backpacking on a 3-4 day trip. When you get home, take out everything you didn't use and leave it at home on your next trip (except a very basic first aid kit). Do that 2-3 times over and then you will have a good idea of what to bring and what not to bring. 

Start ticking off the easier summits and scrambles in your area. Get a feel for alpine environments and how much water you will need, etc. There is a good book on the top 50 scrambles in WA. I'd pick up a copy of that and start ticking off the less technical options. 

That should be enough to get you sufficiently addicted and the rest will come later!

Princess Puppy Lovr · · Rent-n, WA · Joined Jun 2018 · Points: 1,756

AJ while facebook groups have their pros and cons they are very active in the PNW. You might be able to find someone of similar skill ability and split the costs of a guide. The Tacoma gyms are also more friendly than the Seattle gyms. 

AJ Edvardsson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2022 · Points: 0
Tyler Stockdale wrote:

Take a course / classes, or hire a guide to teach you.

The mountaineers, BOEALPS, and Washington Alpine Club all offer good club based classes, but you are too far into the season to apply for this year.

Better to wait and apply in the fall, and spend your summer hiking, rock scrambling, and gym / outdoor climbing. 

Or, hire a guide!

Ah I'm only here for a few months. I'm a traveling CCRN and doing an assignment.

What is the best way to find a credible guide? I would want to make sure they truly know what theyre doing. 

Chris C · · Seattle, WA · Joined Mar 2016 · Points: 407

Facebook has much more active groups than MP for the PNW. “Pacific Northwest Mountaineers” is probably the most applicable to you, there are tons of people in there looking for partners, etc. 

Joining a group the The Mountaineers is also an avenue a lot of people go down to start.

For finding a guide, there are a lot of good services in our area. American Alpine Institute is the most educational from what I’ve seen/experienced. I took their introductory program at some point, I really enjoyed it and it was a great launching point. 

Tyler Stockdale · · Joshua Tree · Joined Oct 2017 · Points: 613
AJ Edvardsson wrote:

Ah I'm only here for a few months. I'm a traveling CCRN and doing an assignment.

What is the best way to find a credible guide? I would want to make sure they truly know what theyre doing. 

Any guide company operating in a national forest, park or public land will legally be required to have fully certified guides. The way to make sure your guide know their stuff is to get your class or course taught through a licensed service, and not by some shmuck off facebook. This normally means that the guides are both certified by the AMGA (or equivalent) and that they are insured in case stuff goes wrong.

Mountain Madness, American Alpine Institute, and Northwest Mountain School are all reputable companies that have great guides and programs. There are toooooons more out there though, just gotta do some digging and reaching out!

IJMayer · · Guemes Island, WA · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 350

My thoughts as a “I wish I had…” point of view:

A good way to get started in mountaineering is to get out and do some smaller mountains and ridge traverses between the them. And I mean 2nd and 3rd class stuff. Look at the tatoosh range or goat rocks. Great fitness, fun days, and a good range of skills that will serve you well on the more popular glacier climbs such as reading maps and terrain, dealing with weather, nutrition, and just comfort being above tree line.

And then hire a guide

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Pacific Northwest
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