About MAS Mountaineering

• Workshops (1 day skills intensive)
  • Crampon & Ice Axe
  • Rope Team & Snow Anchor
  • Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue
• Seminars (2 day skills intensive)
  • Bear Valley Mountaineering
• Camps (2 days skills & adventure combo)
  • Mt. Lassen Mountaineering
  • Matterhorn Peak Mountaineering

Bear Valley is conveniently located 3 hours drive from the San Francisco Bay Area. Mountaineering classes based out of Bear Valley use a blend of backcountry and ski resort terrain to provide excellent training terrain to learn the fundamentals of mountaineering skills.

Mt. Lassen National Park is the "little brother" to Mt. Shasta and is an excellent place to learn and practice mountaineering skills in a beautiful backcountry setting. Mt. Lassen Mountaineering Camps typically target the north side to avoid crowds and providesteeper and more challenging adventures.

Sawtooth Range is located in the Hoover Wilderness on the east side of the Sierra Nevada Range outside Bridgeport on Highway 395. This scenic alpine area offers a number of quality mountaineering routes including the "classic" Matterhorn Peak where MAS leads trips up the East Couloir before a 4th class scramble to the summit.

Learn how to climb and descend steep snow slopes using crampons and ice axe. A variety of techniques will be practiced including how to prevent a slip from becoming a fall (aka - self arrest). This course provides the basics for aspiring mountaineers headed to Mt. Shasta, Mt. Rainer and beyond, including PCT hikers.

Skills Covered:

• Crampon & Ice Axe Skills
• Rest step
• Self Belay & Self Arrest
• Glissading

• good physical condition; ability to hike up to 4 miles with a 20 pound backpack
• must arrive with boots, crampons, and ice axe

March 16, 2013 (Saturday)
April 20, 2013 (Saturday)

Expand your mountaineering skills to include techniques and equipment appropriate for steeper snow slopes and climbing as a team. Learn how to use a climbing rope, including knots and belays. Then incorporate snow anchors (e.g. ice axe, pickets and bollards) to manage risks on exposed slopes.

Skills Covered:

• Basic Knots & Rope Handling
• Rope Team Commands
• Snow Anchors
• Belay & Rappel Techniques

This program combines 2 workshops (Crampon/Ice Axe, Rope Team/Snow Anchor) into a weekend of intense mountaineering skill development.  A thorough introduction to basic mountaineering skills which is often used as a training or refresher course for larger mountaineering goals such as Mt. Shasta and Mt. Rainier. For those seeking additional training on glacier travel a third day is often offered immediately following this program. 

Skills Covered:

• Crampon & Ice Axe Skills
• Self Belay, Self Arrest & Glissading
• Basic Knots, Rope Handling & Commands
• Snow Anchors, Belay & Rappel Techniques

March 16-17, 2013 (Sat-Sun)
April 20-21 (Sat-Sun)

Join MAS for three intensive days of mountaineering skills developmenton the flanks of Mt. Lassen. Skills such as crampon, ice axe and rope team skills are practiced before making an ascent on the northside of this classic Cascade volcano. In addition gain valuable experience snow camping , including backcountry cuisine. MAS guides receive many compliments for their meal preparation.

Skills Covered:

• Crampon, Ice Axe, Rope Team Skills
• Snow camping Skills

May 25-27, 2013

• very good physical condition - ability to hike 8 miles with a 40 pound pack
• overnight backpacking experience
• Crampon / Ice Axe Workshop or equivalent
• Rope Team / Snow Anchor Workshop recommended

TBA