BASIC MOUNTAINEERING SCHOOL

2008 Lecture and Field Trip Schedule


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 CMC qualifying Routefinding trip and a High Peak Climb is required to complete the graduation reuirements.  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 at7:00pm in the American Mountaineering Center Auditorium in Golden.

DATE

SESSION

TOPIC

Instructor

Chapters to have read*

March 24

First Lecture**

QUIZ #1
Introduction to BMS
LNT Principles
Equipment for BMS
Formation of groups

Frank Moore

Brenda Porter

Frank Moore

1. First Steps
2. Clothing and Equipment
7. Leave No Trace

March 31

Second Lecture**

QUIZ #2
Navigation/Routefinding
Knot Session with Instructors**

Frank Moore
Instructors

3. Camping and Food
5. Navigation
9. Basic Safety System

April 14

Third Lecture**

QUIZ #3
Rock Climbing
Knot Test**

Meredith

Moore/Instructors

10. Belaying
11. Rappelling
12. Alpine Rock Climbing Technique

April 19/20

First Rock Day**

Belaying
Escaping (Tying-off) the Belay
Bouldering/Climbing Skills

Group

April 21

Fourth Lecture

 QUIZ #4
Mountain Weather
Basic Snow

John Snook (CAIC)

 Video

 27. Mountain Weather
16. Snow Travel & Climbing
22. Safety

April 26/27

Second Rock Day**

Rappelling
Prusiking
Passing a Knot in the Rappel Rope

Group

April 28

Fifth Lecture

Final Exam
High Peak Climbing

HAMS intro
Hard Snow


Frank Moore/TBD

Bonowski/TBD
Video

21. Leadership
18. Alpine Ice Climbing

May 3/4

Basic Snow Day**

Ice Axe Practice
Snow Anchors, Belaying

Group

May 10/11

Third Rock Day

Multi-Pitch Climb

Group

May 17/18

Hard Snow Day

Crampons
Roped Team Travel

Group

May 31/June 1

Rain Day

If Required

Before July 1

Qualifying Route Finding Trip ***

"C" Hike

Group

Before Sept 30

Qualifying High Peak Climb***

Overnight "D" Hike

Group

*     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 . A successful routefinding trip must be completed by July 1st. A successful high peak climb 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) current CMC membership; 2) possession of at least a Denver group C hiking classification (do not delay getting this classification); and 3) prepayment of the $195 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 15 and Monday, January 21, 2008, 7:00 p.m. at the CMC Auditorium in Golden. Application packets will be available at this presentation. The BMS application forms are due back to the CMC office by Thursday, February 15, 2008. 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.

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.

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, Frank Moore via e-mail (frank.moore@mindspring.com) or by phone at  303-814-2464 (home). E-mail is the preferred method of contact and will result in the most timely response. 

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