Climb School 2011 A Great Success

Each spring the Santiam Alpine Club holds their annual “Climb School”.  This is where we invite people who are interested in learning about rock climbing and alpine mountain climbing to attend a course we offer that teaches basic knowledge and skills that will give them a good start.

Last year I was a new student, this year I got to help with the school as an instructor in the evening classes we held at Club Sport and as an assistant instructor in the two days of practical, outdoor instruction. 

 May 7^th we went to Horse Thief Butte in the Columbia River Gorge to learn rock climbing skills.  Last year I was terrified when I was climbing up rock walls, chimneys or rappelling over a huge cliff.  This year I was quite comfortable doing the same and more difficult activities!  What a difference a year makes.  It was a blast!  Using skills I learned last year I helped to make one of the activities safer, and helped teach those skills to students.

That evening, we went back to a state park for a Bar-B-Q and an evening of socializing.  The good food was plentiful and the alcohol flowed freely. I don’t drink, and am usually a little uncomfortable around people doing so, but these are my friends and I got a kick seeing them so relaxed and watching them get more relaxed and funny as the evening wore down.  By about 9:30 I had laughed my rear off and was ready for bed.  I went to my tent, wrapped up in my warm down sleeping bag and was asleep in minutes!

The next morning we packed up, had a wonderful breakfast and headed up to Mt. Hood for day two: glacier travel skills.  We taught roped team travel, self belay, fall arrest and other snow skills.  Again, we had a great time.  There was a feeling of camaraderie between students and instructors that matched the warm sunshine.  It was a very successful climb school.  I’ve grown quite fond of my SAC friends.  We come from very different back grounds but surely enjoy being together.  I’m looking forward to a great climbing season!