Basic Mountaineering School

BMS will consist of five Monday evening lectures and six weekend field trips.  All lectures and field trips are mandatory to graduate!  In addition, a successful participation in a qualifying, CMC-scheduled Routefinding trip, a qualifying, CMC-scheduled High Peak Climb, and participation in any trail building outing by any official or volunteer agency, is required to complete the graduation requirements.  Makeup classes generally are not available.  All six of the weekend field trips will be one full day (Saturday or Sunday). The routefinding trip must be a Moderate C minimum and be scheduled and supervised by a BMS-qualified trip leader.  The High Peak Climb must be a overnight D trip and scheduled and supervised by a by a BMS-qualified trip leader. .

All lectures will begin promptly at 6:30 pm in the American Mountaineering Center Foss Auditorium in Golden.

*     Text: Mountaineering: Freedom Of The Hills, Seventh Edition - Seattle Mountaineers
**   Required for further participation in BMS field trips.

***The Routefinding trip and the High Peak Climb are planned and coordinated by students and scheduled on line by a BMS-qualified Trip Leader . Successful participation routefinding trip must be completed by July 1st. Successful participation in a high peak climb and in a trail building outing must be completed by September 30th.

PREREQUISITES: Admission to BMS is open to people who are at least eighteen years old and who meet the following requirements: 1) have attended an orientation session at the CMC, 2) have a current CMC membership; 2) possess at least a Denver group C hiking classification (do not delay getting this classification); and 3) prepay the $200 tuition (An additional $10 for non-Denver Group members is required).

Potential BMS students do not need to possess any previous technical rock climbing experience. They do need to possess conditioning and stamina.

ORIENTATION MEETINGS/APPLICATON: ATTENDANCE at ONE meeting is REQUIRED.  On Tuesday, January 19 and Monday, January 25, 2010, 7:00 p.m. at the CMC Foss Auditorium in Golden. Application packets will be available at this presentation. The BMS application forms are due back to the CMC office by Friday, February 19, 2010. Please include a check for the tuition with your application, or your VISA or MC number with the expiration date for your card.  Copies of C classification cards, classification change requests submitted, and/or waivers granted to the WTS/BPS prerequisites is recommended, in the event there are delays in processing.  Applications received without verification of all prerequisites (membership, orientation attendance, approved C classifications, approved waiver requests) by the deadline may not be considered for enrollment.

Enrollment in BMS will be dictated by the number of qualified instructors available, in order to maintain the low student/instructor ratio (2:1). If more people apply than can be accommodated, priority will be based on the evaluation of the applicant's responses to their complete and acceptable application and on volunteer service to the Colorado Mountain Club.

If you are not committed to attending all of the lectures and field trips please consider applying when you can make the full commitment. This will allow room in the school for those who are able to complete course.

If you have any questions regarding BMS, please contact the BMS Director, Deb Kirk via e-mail (bmsdirector2010@gmail.com ).  E-mail is the preferred method of contact and will result in the most timely response.