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Scrambling Skills Course
- Location
- Squamish, BC
- Duration
- 2 Days
- Difficulty
- Introductory / Intermediate
- Guest Ratio
- 6 to 1
$399 per person
Book nowLearn to Scramble Peaks Like Black Tusk and Sky Pilot
The Scrambling Skills Course is a two-day course in the Sea to Sky with an ACMG guide for hikers who want to leave the trail and reach summits. You’ll learn to navigate off-trail, read a route, move safely on 3rd and 4th class rock and cross snow with an ice axe. No mountaineering experience is needed, just the fitness to hike for 6 hours. It costs $399 for the two days, with up to 6 people per guide.
Day 1 is skills: navigation, route assessment, managing rockfall and other alpine hazards, and moving efficiently over steep, broken ground. On Day 2 you use them on a real objective. After the course, peaks like Black Tusk, Sky Pilot and the south ridge of Tricouni stop being someone else’s trip report. For a primer, read our post on mountain navigation skills.
Ready for ropes and glaciers? Take the Intro to Mountaineering course next.
What does this course cover?
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Part of the Introductory skill set.
This course is great for anyone who likes to hike on single-track trails and explore the mountains.
- No previous mountaineering experience
- Fitness to be moving for a minimum of 6 hours
- Can hike 6 hours a day in uphill terrain
- Likes being outside
Prerequisites
No prerequisites required
Is this course for me?
The goal of this course is to have you feeling comfortable summiting 3rd or 4th class mountains. Learn how to manage alpine hazards, move fast over off-trail terrain, manage rockfall hazards and navigate properly.
- Navigation
- Moving fast off-trail
- 3rd or 4th class management
- Snow travel
- Route assessment
Includes
- 2 full days of instruction with ACMG guide
- All technical equipment (ice axe, helmet, and group gear)
Does Not Include
- Food
- Mountaineering/hiking boots
- Transportation to and from the meeting point
- You may have to purchase 1 day pass for either Whistler Blackcomb or the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish.
2027 DATES
Frequently Asked Questions
Gear List
Boots- sturdy leather or leather with lug soles and good ankle support
Ice Axe
Helmet- designed for climbing
Backpack: 30L day pack
Hiking Poles (collapsible poles with summer, hiking basket)
Base Layers (thermals: top, bottoms, socks)
Climbing Layers (mid-weight softshell jacket and pants)
Waterproof Shells (pants and jacket)
Insulated Jacket (down or synthetic)
Warm Headwear
Gloves (2 pairs- one lighter weight for climbing and one for colder temps)
Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip protection
Water & Food for the day
Headlamp
Camera
What is scrambling?
Scrambling is off-trail travel on steep, rocky terrain where you use your hands for balance and sometimes to pull yourself up. In the Yosemite Decimal System it is 3rd and 4th class terrain: steeper than hiking, but usually done without a rope.
Do I need any experience?
No mountaineering experience is needed. You should be a regular hiker who can cover 6 hours a day on uphill terrain. The course teaches everything else.
Where does the course run?
In the Squamish and Whistler area. Depending on conditions we may use the Sea to Sky Gondola or Whistler Blackcomb lifts to reach the alpine faster, so you might need to buy a day pass.
What gear do I need?
Sturdy hiking or mountaineering boots with good ankle support, a 30 L pack, layers including waterproof shells, gloves, a headlamp, and food and water. We provide the ice axe, helmet and group gear. The full list is in the gear list section above.
What should I do after this course?
Practise on some easier peaks with friends, then take Intro to Mountaineering to learn ropework and glacier basics.
Can I book a private scrambling course?
Yes. Private courses run on dates that suit you and cost $875 per day for your group. Contact us for a quote.
