Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#89131 - 02/05/08 07:57 PM Best NOLS Mountaineering Course
LeavingBerlin Offline
newbie

Registered: 02/03/08
Posts: 6
Loc: North Carolina
I am really interested in getting into mountaineering and I am considering taking a summer course. I like the look of the NOLS courses (I don't like the prices!) but I cannot decide which place would be the best.

NOLS offers the following courses in the following locations:

Wind River Range: $3,800, 30 days
North Cascades: $3,800, 31 days
Waddington Range: $4,630, 31 days
Alaska: $4,820, 30 days
Patagonia: $5,470, 34 days
Himalaya: $6,380, 40 days

Which place would you like to visit the most? What is the best bang for your buck?

I am really interested in hearing anyones personal encounters with NOLS. Also please suggest better guide services or an alternatives to learning proper mountaineering. Thanks!

Top
#89132 - 02/05/08 08:01 PM Re: Best NOLS Mountaineering Course [Re: LeavingBerlin]
Bearpaw Offline
Moderator

Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 1732
Loc: Tennessee
North Cascades often gives you the best mix of glacier and rock, so it's a lot of bang for the buck so to speak.

Every thing with NOLS is slow and methodical. If you have quite a bit of experience, it may be too slow for you, but if you want to learn to DO IT on your own, instead of being guided for a while then go home, it is a good program.

BTW, I taught wilderness courses for NOLS from 2001 to 2003.
_________________________
http://www.trailjournals.com/BearpawAT99/

Top
#89133 - 02/05/08 08:46 PM Re: Best NOLS Mountaineering Course [Re: LeavingBerlin]
TomD Offline
Moderator

Registered: 10/30/03
Posts: 4963
Loc: Marina del Rey,CA
I took a much shorter course (ten days) in New Zealand from Alpine Guides at Mt. Cook. I had a great time and learned the basics of rock climbing and alpine mountaineering. The cost was reasonable.

The weather there can be quite good, the temps moderate, the terrain varied (including glacier travel), the people friendly, and great scenery.

Here is the link to their site-
http://www.alpineguides.co.nz/
the seasons are reversed, so keep that in mind.
_________________________
Don't get me started, you know how I get.

Top
#89134 - 02/05/08 08:55 PM Re: Best NOLS Mountaineering Course [Re: LeavingBerlin]
alanwenker Offline
member

Registered: 02/04/03
Posts: 812
The best course is the one you are on. I took a NOLS, 25 and older, climbing course on Rainier in 1993 and had a great time. Some day I'd like to take another and then another still. I'd vote for North Cascades from your list.

Top
#89135 - 02/05/08 09:05 PM Re: Best NOLS Mountaineering Course [Re: LeavingBerlin]
wandering_daisy Offline
member

Registered: 01/11/06
Posts: 2865
Loc: California
I taught 13 NOLS mountaineering courses from 1969-1975. That was a long time ago! I still keep in touch with some of the instructors. The Wind River or Cascades courses would teach essentially the same stuff. If you really like snow climbing, Cascades would be better for you. You need to check if the Ptagonia, Waddington or Himilayan courses require a previous NOLS course. They used to require the basic courses before you could take courses in these more "exotic" locations.

At NOLS you will learn all aspects of mountaineeirng from cooking meals, rationing, orientering to the technical climbing. It is broad, comprehensive. We used to say that once you have finished a basic course, you are ready to START mountaineering. The emphasis is on making YOU competent. It is really hands on and you do it yourself. It is not a guided course.

If you simply want to learn very specific mountaineering skills, you may prefer other instruction. Almost all guide services will do some instruction. Or if you simply want to see an area, a guide service may be more what you want.

The price of NOLS is not bad considering what you get. You will be hard pressed to find another school with equal or less "per day" costs. You will get about 2 weeks of ancillary skills and 2 weeks of mountaineering. I had climbed quite a bit when I went to NOLS and I actually learned more from the ancillary instruction. NOLS makes you a good overall outdoorsman whether you are into mountaineering or not.

NOLS also has a scholarship program. You will want to check to see if you qualify for some financial assistance.

I personally think NOLS is one of the best courses of instruction out there. That is if you really want instruction, not a guide service. I think that those who get the most out of NOLS are those who have been out a little bit (not complete novices). It may not be the best investment if you already are a intermediate climber. The dominant age group is 18-25 years old. And the "social scene" is primarly geared to that age group. They do have some special courses for older people.

Call them and get more information. They want students who really WANT to come to NOLS so they will give you enough information to be sure the school is a good fit for you.

Top
#89136 - 02/06/08 08:10 AM Re: Best NOLS Mountaineering Course [Re: wandering_daisy]
alanwenker Offline
member

Registered: 02/04/03
Posts: 812
All very good points Daisy. NOLS is definately not a hold-you-by-the-hand guide service. If you are looking for that type of service you need to keep looking. I had wanted to take a NOLS course for 15 years (time lag between reading Petzoldt's The Wilderness Handbook at age 15 and actually taking my course at age 30) and wish I had done so during college.

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 180 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum