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Alpine Scrambling Course - Denver - 2025

Scrambling Course

Alpine Scrambling Course

Alpine Scrambling is defined as unroped climbing over mountainous terrain. This course consists of self-guided online course materials, 2 virtual weekday evening lectures, 1 in-person meet up (weekday evening), 2 Skills Day clinics, and 2-3 scrambling trips of progressing difficulty. In this course you will learn how to plan and execute a successful scramble trip. You will then apply your new skills in scramble trips throughout the front range.

Contacts

Valerie Garrison
Valerie Garrison
Leader

Welcome to the 2025 Denver Group's Alpine Scrambling Course (DEN ASC)! 

The Alpine Scrambling Course is a strenuous program that combines many outdoor skills and requires a high level of fitness to participate safely, but students do not need any prior experience with climbing or scrambling. For this reason, the course is rated as moderate.

Course Prerequisites:

1. Completion of CMC’s Wilderness Trekking School or equivalent experience.  This includes:  familiarity and preparedness with the 10 essentials, off-trail navigation with a map and compass, trip planning, snow travel and familiarity with Leave No Trace ethics.

2. Ability to participate in CMC “C level” hikes, which are up to 15 miles or 3500’ of elevation gain (or both) and may contain off-trail portions. Students should be able to complete these distances without becoming too tired so they can maintain awareness and balance in exposed terrain.

Required Events
Students who complete this course material and attend in-person lectures and skills days will receive the scrambling course badge. 

May 1 - June 15: Self-guided online course
Mid-May: Online lecture #1
May 17 & 18: Snow Skills Field Days (must attend one day)
Late May/Early June: Online Lecture #2
June 7 & 8: Scramble Skills Days (must attend one day)
Mid-June: In-person meetup

Scramble Trip Dates
Apply what you've learned through progressively more challenging scramble trips led by DEN ASC instructors. You will be able and encouraged to sign up for at least one Level 1 and one Level 2 (or 3 if approved by an instructor). Each weekend will have Saturday and Sunday trips, so you can choose the day that works best for you.

DEN ASC Field Schedule 2025.png

Ready to join us? 

Please complete the course application form. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis and the course fills quickly; all applications must be submitted by 4/13/2025. The ASC Planning Committee will review and respond to applications on the following schedule. Accepted students who have not registered by their registration deadline may lose their spot to a waitlisted applicant.

 Application Review Schedule

DEN ASC 2025 App Review Schedule.png

Cancellation Policy
Please refer to the CMC cancellation policy linked above for more information. 
Questions? 
Please contact the ASC Planning Committee (cmcalpinescrambling@gmail.com) and a volunteer will respond as soon as possible. For a faster response, please CC the Committee Chair (Val Garrison, vkgarrison@gmail.com).

Badges you will earn:

Course Requirements

This course has no scheduled activities.

Roster
Required Equipment
  • Ten Essentials (including Bivy and Shelter)
  • Climbing Helmet
  • Ice Ax
  • 2 Locking Carabiners
  • 2 Climbing Runners/Slings
  • Climbing or Alpine Harness

Download a PDF of our gear list with descriptions and examples. 

Note: All students will receive a copy of Colorado Scrambles by Dave Cooper (CMC Press) after successfully completing the self-study online material.

Course Materials

You must register for this course to see course materials.