Cost

The course is very inexpensive, but you have to understand, we are weekend warriors with a love for our sport, not paid guides! You must accept a level of self-sufficiency and responsibility. We will steer you in the right direction, nothing else! This course is for those with a desire to learn the sport. We will provide you with the tools to ascend the world's mountains. You provide the desire and responsibility we all have on the high places of the earth. We are friends teaching friends, Mountaineers teaching Mountaineering.

Up Front Costs

ECP Membership: $20 individual, $25 family. See our ECP membership application and liability waiver.

The course:
New students: $165 + $50 refundable gear deposit = $215
Returning students: $115 + $50 refundable gear deposit = $165
You will not find a better value or similar program even remotely as cheap.

Textbooks: ~$50 for the 2 required textbooks (Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills and Alpine Climbing: Techniques to Take You Higher). These can be purchased from Exkursion Outfitters or another retailer.

pic With more than 600,000 copies sold, Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills is the acclaimed bible for climbers all over the world, and the new edition marks the 50th anniversary of this seminal title. Since the publication of the first edition in 1960, Freedom, as the book is known, has endured as a classic mountaineering text. From choosing equipment to tying a climbing knot, and from basic rappelling techniques to planning an expedition, it is all here in this essential mountaineering reference. A team of more than forty experts, all active climbers and climbing educators, reviewed, revised, and updated this compendium to reflect the latest evolutions in mountaineering equipment and techniques. Major updates include a significant new chapter on conditioning, plus detailed and extensive revisions to rescue and first-response, aid climbing, and waterfall and ice climbing.

  • Note: As of 2010, the 50th anniversary (8th) edition of Freedom of the Hills has been released. The 2011-2012 school will use the 8th edition, but the 7th edition will also be acceptable..

pic Alpine Climbing This intermediate guide addresses tools, skills, and techniques used in alpine terrain includng rock, snow, ice, and glaciers at moderate altitude approximately 5,000 metres and lower.


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Gear and Equipment

The amount of gear and equipment required to be even basically comfortable is large. If you don't already have much technical outdoor gear, You will spend money to pursue this sport - maybe $1000, maybe $3000 in just your first year.

We go a long way to help ease the pain: we try our best to outfit each student with mountaineering boots, crampons, a glacier axe, and technical tools. Note that these are all subject to size avilability.

We often are able to secure a significant discount at our friendly neighborhood outfitters: Exkursion for all students during the school term.

Students will NOT be expected to be fully outfitted by the time of the first class. In fact, we recommend waiting to purchase gear until you learn what works best in the mountains. However, students should be prepared enough by the time of the first outing to get through a day hike in inclement weather that October and early November can bring.

Below is an overview of gear & clothing that students will need to complete the outings prior to the graduation trip.  It is NOT a complete list of all required gear but it should provide prospective students a sense of what they typically will need to purchase themselves (List 1) and what they can typically expect to be borrowed from the ECP or its members (List 2) over the course of the school.  A more detailed explanation of the types of gear required will be provided during the first class.

List 1 - Gear & Clothing Typically Requiring Student Purchase

Note that NONE of the clothing items below should include ANY cotton...As you will learn in the mountaineering school - cotton kills!

Wicking Layer
  • Socks
  • Long underwear bottoms
  • Long underwear top
  • Liner gloves
Insulating Layer
  • 2 pair socks
  • Fleece top
  • Fleece gloves
  • Fleece hat
  • Down parka (or heavy ski jacket)
  • Balaclava / face mask
Shell Layer
  • Hiking boots (this does NOT mean expensive mountaineering boots!)
  • Waterproof/breathable pants
  • Waterproof/breathable jacket
  • Insulated gloves
  • Gaiters
Miscellaneous Gear
  • Headlamp
  • 2 water bottles with insulated holders
  • Sleeping pad (self-inflating or closed cell foam)
  • Sleeping bag (0-20 degree)

List 2 - Group Gear and Gear that can be Typically Borrowed*

  • 2-way radios
  • Backpack
  • Stove
  • Cookware
  • 3 and 4 season tents
  • Bivy sack
  • Rope
  • Rock and ice protection

*The ECP Mountaineering School's instructors have many of the more expensive items that students will need (List 2) and are generous in lending their personal gear. However, we can not guarantee that each of these items will be available to every student.

Other Expenses

  • The cost of transportation to and from all outings is your responsibility. Carpools will be arranged to keep this at a minumum.
  • All graduation trip expenses (air travel if you choose and minimal lodging) are your responsibility.

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