CMS: Mountaineering Development Series: Level 1

[wanderlust073]

Has anyone here taken this course? If so would you recommend it or are some of the other learning options available in Colorado a better investment of time/money?

I've taken some classes with CMS and have had positive experiences, but I've also found that delivery of the course material and to some extent the quality of the course varies (greatly) depending on the instructor(s).

My goals are to be able to tackle multi-pitch roped climbs in CO, Rainier (maybe) and Denali (stretch goal). Other than hiking 14ers and some rock climbing down at Red River Gorge when I was much younger, I'd be walking in to this with no real experience whatsoever. So I want to make sure I'm getting the best education I can for the time.

[nyker]

I've taken similar courses with CMC, RMI and SMI, though that was years ago. Per your comment, a lot of the value will come down to the specific instructor you work with on that day. I lucked out and had good instructors for all my courses at that time. So it would pay to do a couple of the courses over time with different instructors. Perhaps shorter ones such that if you do get a bad instructor, you're not stuck with them for a week. Either way though, if you don't have any experience with snow travel or on more involved trips, this sort of course should be a good introduction and skill builder.

[BRadleyC]

I took the 2 day intro to mountaineering course from CMS a couple years again and it was solid. No regrets - learned the basics of crampons, ice ax, self arrest, and roped team travel. The class concluded with a snow climb in RMNP on the second day.

[wanderlust073]

Thank you both. Think I'll pull the trigger on it.