Upcoming Alpine Skills Weekend 2025

The application portal is now closed and ASW is currently waitlisted. Thanks to all who applied!

Alpine Skills Weekend (ASW) will occur Thursday January 23 to Sunday January 26, 2025 in Mt. Washington, outside of North Conway, New Hampshire. Travel dates are on/before Wednesday January 22 and on/after Monday January 27. ASW also includes team calls (November 4 and January 12), mandatory gear check (December 7), and mandatory training hike (November 16 or December 14).

ASW introduces participants to essential mountaineering and alpine climbing skills and is geared towards novice mountaineers. Conditions permitting, the team will spend 2-3 nights snow camping outside the Harvard Cabin, with a day of skills practice, a summit attempt of Mt. Washington, and a day of ice climbing at a local crag. Temperatures on Mt. Washington are often in the single digits in January, so be prepared for the cold! Participants will learn winter camping skills, self-management, rope team movement, self-arrest, footwork, snow anchors, basic knots, and more. Participants must provide their own gear, although double boots, crampons, and ice axes are available from the club gear locker. The club provides shared 4-season tents. Participants will be responsible for paying for their hotel rooms, meals, equipment, and the $15 per night camping fee ($30-45 total).

Prior mountaineering experience is not required, although applicants should be in good physical shape and have at least some hiking and camping experience. To be eligible, applicants must be members of PATC-MS and have paid their yearly dues at the time of application. There is always a waitlist for ASW, so applicants should be reasonably sure they are able to attend all scheduled events prior to applying. To maximize learning and safety, participation is limited to 10 team members plus the mentors. This year’s mentors are Ana Mills, Chris Close, Stephanie Stefanski, James Stockton, and McLain Saba. A big shout out to Corey Hilz and Bill Kessinger for their years running the program! We look forward to freezing our tushes off with a great team in 2025!
Contact Ana Mills at [email protected] or Chris Close at [email protected] with questions.
  •  January 23, 2025 - January 26, 2025
     11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Admission

Expired