A Comprehensive Introduction to Expedition Climbing and Essential Mountaineering Skills

If you are looking to become a mountaineer and have aspirations of climbing the bigger mountains of the world this course is jam packed with essential skills. With a compact, comprehensive itinerary and practical skills put into practice - this is the real deal. You may enter green but will leave with the confidence to embark on single day or expedition climbs in the future.

 What To Know

CLIMB DETAILS

Length: 5 Days
Guide-to-Client Ratio: 1:4
Difficulty: Strenuous
When:
January 11-15, 2027
February 22-26, 2027
March 15-19, 2027
Type: Course
Type: Mixed

PRICING

1 person: $1750 per person
2 people: $1450 per person
3 people: $1250 per person
4 people: $1100 per person
5+people: Call for rates

RENTAL GEAR

Most of the required equipment [listed below] is available for rent from our rental shop. 

LET'S WORK TOGETHER!

Call us to book custom dates

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Essential Mountaineering Skills

The comprehensive itinerary starts at our shop in North Conway where you will meet your guide, conduct a thorough gear check and grasp what the following days will entail. Every day is split into a morning and afternoon session with an evening discussion after dinner. Days will be mostly spent outdoors in the mountains learning in real-life scenarios. Overnights will be spent at The Bunkhouse at Northeast Mountaineering, which is included in the tuition of this course. We will spend 1-2 nights camping in the mountains. This course includes a client-lead summit attempt of Mount Washington. We will finished the week tired, hungry and eager for a celebratory drink.

The itinerary below is a sample itinerary and may be adjusted due to weather, group dynamics and the learning goals of the group. Your tuition includes a bunk in our bunkhouse for the entirety of the course beginning after the first day of class. This requires a separate reservation. Instructions to make this reservation will be provided upon enrollment. You are welcome to secure your own lodging in the area if you wish to have more privacy.

JAM PACKED

Due to the length and amount of information covered in this course, the itinerary and topics are subject to change. We will adjust this course to meet your needs! If time permits, we may cover emergency shelters, basic navigation and/or basic avalanche awareness skills. For a comprehensive understanding, consider enrolling in an AIARE Avalanche Course and/or Wilderness Navigation. 

DAY ONE:

Location: NEM Headquarters
Morning Objectives

  • Winter clothing & gear selection
  • Self care in cold environments
  • Hydration & Nutrition
  • Packing Procedure
  • Gear Check

Afternoon Objectives

  • Self Arrest
  • Crampon Techniques
  • Rest Stepping

Evening: Acquire needed/missing supplies

DAY TWO

Location: NEM Bunkhouse + Field Location
Morning Objectives

  • Knots
  • Friction Hitches
  • Hitches

Afternoon Objectives

  • Anchor Construction
  • Snow and Ice Anchors

Evening: Digital Mapping and Trip Planning

DAY THREE

Location: NEM Bunkhouse + Mt Washington
Morning Objectives

  • Organizing a Rope Team
  • Glacier Anatomy

Afternoon Objectives

  • Hike into Harvard Cabin Campsite
  • Winter Camping Skills
  • Overnight in Tents

Evening: Leave No Trace

DAY FOUR

Location: Mt Washington
Morning Objectives

  • Summit Attempt on Mt Washington

Afternoon Objectives

  • Summit Attempt on Mt Washington

Evening: Free

DAY FIVE

Location: Field Location TBD
Morning Objectives

  • Crevasse Rescue and Hauls

Afternoon Objectives

  • Ice Climbing
  • Belaying
  • Rappelling

Stay Safe In Avy Terrain

AIARE 1: DECISION MAKING IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN
Students can expect to develop a good grounding in how to prepare for and carry out a trip, to understand basic decision making while in the field, and to learn rescue techniques required to find and dig up a buried person (if an avalanche occurs and someone in the party is caught).

PRICING

1 person: $625
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Stay Found with Map and Compass

WILDERNESS NAVIGATION
Having a map and compass constitutes one the “Ten Essentials” as recommended by numerous recognized outdoors organizations. As such, if you play in the wild, you may indeed carry these tools. But do you know how to use them? Learn how to plot a course and confidently follow it. Be a master of the wilderness by knowing where you are and where you’re going. After all, if you know these two things, you’re not lost!

PRICING

1 person: $325 per person
2 people: $275 per person
3 people: $250 per person
4 people: $225 per person
Learn More

Gear List for the 5-Day Expedition School

Our goal is to make your mountain experience as memorable and comfortable as possible. To do this, you must be properly prepared.  When selecting clothing for your adventure, choose synthetic materials, wool, or fleece as cotton will absorb sweat and freeze. We rent nearly everything you will need, however we do not rent some key pieces of clothing. Please cross-reference the gear list below with the gear that you own and then rent what you need from our rental shop.  

GEAR
[  ] Pack with Waist Strap: A 55-65L pack is the recommended size for this course. Your pack MUST have a waist strap. A urban backpack will not suffice.
[  ] Crampons: 12 point semi or fully automatic crampons designed for mountaineering.
[  ] Ice Axe: An ice axe designed for general mountaineering. 60cm-65cm will fit most climbers.
[  ] Climbing Harness: UIAA certified climbing harness.
[  ] Helmet: UIAA certified climbing helmet.
[  ] Kahtoola Microspikes: Should have durable chain and spikes underfoot. No studs please.
[  ] Trekking Poles: Extendable hiking poles. Not mandatory but useful.
[  ] Cordelette: One 23' length of 7mm accessory cordage suitable for anchor building or pre-sewn cordelette.
[  ] Prussik Cordage: Two 40" lengths of 6mm accessory cordage or two 19" hollowblocks.
[  ] Sling: One double length (120cm) dyneema sling.
[  ] Carabiners: Five locking carabiners, 2 non-locking carabiners suitable for climbing
[  ] Belay Device: Black Diamond ATC or Petzl Reverso.

CLOTHING
[  ] Neoprene Face Mask: Provides full coverage of your face from chin to eyes. Should have ventilation for exhalations. Outer-U Face Glove works well.
[  ] Warm Hat: Wool or synthetic. It should be warm and thin enough to fit underneath a climbing helmet.
[  ] Neck Buff: Synthetic neck tube that can be pulled up over your face. The BUFF brand sells these.
[  ] Sun Hat: Optional. A lightweight ball cap.
[  ] Lightweight glove: Synthetic, lightweight and thin.
[  ] Medium Weight Glove: Wind/water resistant insulated mountain gloves. Synthetic or leather.
[  ] Heavy Mittens: Wind/water resistant, insulated gloves or mittens for protection against wind, snow and cold. Synthetic or leather.
[  ] Base Layer Top and Bottom: Long-sleeve wool or synthetic will be used as your base layer.
[  ] Light Insulating Jacket: Long sleeved, light puffy layer. Down or synthetic insulation.
[  ] Hard Shell Jacket with Hood: Wind/rain Proof. Gore-Tex recommended.
[  ] Insulated Parka: This item becomes of highest importance when we are faced with poor weather. This should be an expeditionary-type heavy parka that extends well below the waist and above the knees. Goose down is recommended versus synthetic fill. It does not have to be waterproof, but that is a nice feature. The parka is worn primarily at rest breaks, when standing still while learning a new skill and as an emergency layer if needed. When sizing a parka, allow for several layers to be worn underneath; buy it large. The parka must have an insulated hood.
[  ] Climbing Pants: Non-insulated or only lightly insulated. No ski resort snow pants please.
[  ] Hard Shell Pants: Waterproof and windproof. non-insulated. Full side zips are highly recommended. No ski resort snow pants please.
[  ] Mountaineering Boots: Double leather boots or insulated single boots are okay. Must have the ability to attach semi-automatic crampons (must have a heel welt for crampons). Lightweight hiking boots without insulation are not acceptable as they are not compatible with crampons and will not keep your feet warm enough.
[  ] Gaiters: A knee-length pair of gaiters, large enough to fit over your mountaineering boots. This will protect you from catching your crampons on loose clothing.
[  ] Heavyweight Socks: Either wool or synthetic. Some people find liner socks useful for reducing friction.

OVERNIGHT GEAR
[  ] Sleeping Bag: A knee-length pair of gaiters, large enough to fit over your mountaineering boots. This will protect you from catching your crampons on loose clothing.
[  ] Inflateable Sleeping Pad: 2" inflateable backpacking sleeping pad with an R-rating of 5 or more. Thermo-rest Neo-Air Xtherm or similar is recommended.
[  ] Closed Cell Foam Pad: Foam pad to place underneath your inflateable pad for extra insulation
[  ] Hydration and Nutrition Two wide-mouthed Nalgene bottles (no hydration bladders). Mug, Thermos and Spoon
[  ] Headlamp At least 800 lumens. Ideally features a red-light mode.

MISCELLANEOUS
[  ] Sunscreen
[  ] Sun Glasses: A pair of dark-lensed, polarized sunglasses.
[  ] Goggles: A pair of ski goggles to protect from wind and blowing snow.
[  ] Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, wipes, toilet paper, hand sanitizer.
[  ] Gallon Zip-loc: Used to pack out your on-mountain trash.
 

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General Policies

GENERAL POLICIES

NEMs Adventure itineraries are subject to change or be adjusted based on a number of factors. These include, but are not limited to, route conditions, weather, terrain, group dynamics and many other factors. NEM has complete discretion to change plans to accommodate any of these or other factors, including the discretion to change program schedule or itinerary, and change guides or staff, as necessary for the proper and safe conduct of the program. We reserve the right to cancel any program due to inadequate signups, weather or route conditions. In such a case, an NEM credit for the full value is given; however, NEM cannot be responsible for any additional expenses incurred in preparing for the program (i.e., airline tickets, equipment purchase or rental, hotel reservations). NEM reserves the right to dismiss the Participant from a trip at any time if NEM determines, in its sole discretion, that the Participant is not physically, technically, or psychologically prepared for or capable of participating in the program. This includes being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

SUMMIT ATTEMPT

Northeast Mountaineering cannot guarantee that you will reach the summit or complete the objective you have signed up for. Weather, route conditions, your own abilities or the abilities of others may create circumstances that make an ascent unsafe, and you or your entire party will have to turn around without reaching the summit. Your program fee entitles you to one mountain experience on your specified dates.

MINIMUM REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Most of our programs do not have a minimum enrollment. If you are the only one registered, it will likely become a private outing. For our Waterfall Rappelling adventure, we must have at least 50% enrollment (3 people) to run the adventure. In the event of low-enrollment, we will reschedule your adventure to another date. If another date cannot be accommodated, you will receive an NEM credit.

RISK MANAGEMENT

Safety is NEM’s number one priority. Our guides manage significant hazards inherent in the mountains but they cannot eliminate them. NEM guides draw from their wealth of experience and training to make sound decisions that maximize your experience without compromising the necessary margin of safety. Please clearly understand that mountaineering and all other mountain adventures are inherently hazardous sports. You are choosing to engage in an activity in which participants have been injured and killed. While those accidents are indeed infrequent, they may occur at any time and be out of our control. We ask that participants acknowledge the risk and hazards of these sports, and make their own choices about whether or not to engage in these activities.

NEW ENGLAND ADVENTURES

Payment in full is due at the time of booking. Payments may be made via MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or check.

BEYOND NEW ENGLAND INCLUDING MOUNT RAINIER

A non-refundable deposit of $200 per person secures your reservation but may vary - please check your specific adventure. Payments may be made via MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or check. Final payment is due 1 month [30 days] before departure. For your convenience, we can work out a monthly payment plan.

INTERNATIONAL ADVENTURES

A non-refundable deposit of $200 per person secures your reservation but may vary - please check your specific adventure. Payments may be made via MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or check. Final payment is due 1 month [30 days] before departure. For your convenience, we can work out a monthly payment plan.

CANCELLATION FOR NEW ENGLAND PROGRAMS

Up to 30 days before your adventure: Full Refund will be issued 29 days - 72 hours before your adventure: Full Refund in the form of NEM credit Within 72 hours of your adventure: No refund will be issued*

CANCELLATION FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS & OUTSIDE OF NEW ENGLAND

Up to 90 days before your adventure: Full Refund will be issued 89 days - 30 days before your adventure: Participant will be responsible for paying 50% of the total balance. If the balance is paid in full, participant will receive a 50% refund in the form of NEM credit. Within 30 days of your adventure: No refund will be issued and participant will be responsible for paying the full balance.* *Travel Insurance is highly recommended to protect your investment. If NEM cancels your adventure due to weather or another unforeseen reason, you will receive an NEM credit.

CHANGE OF DATE

Date changes are subject to availability. Date changes may be requested at anytime up to 7 days prior to your adventure without incurring a date change fee. Date changes may be requested between 7 and 3 days prior to your departure date for a $50 change fee. There are no date changes allowed within 72 hours before your adventure.

OUTSTANDING BALANCES

NEM requires payment in full within 2 weeks of your program. If you have an outstanding balance inside of this time-frame, the reservation will be marked as an NEM credit and the date will be released.