The Mountaineers. Although the Basic Climbing Course class was slightly smaller than usual with 215 people, the number of graduates at the end of the season was as large as usual, slightly over 100. Interest and activity in the Intermediate Climbing Course continued to increase. Over 80 basic and intermediate climbs were conducted as part of the climbing courses, many to remote and seldom-visited areas. In fact, one intermediate climb reached a rocky summit that had not been climbed for 18 years. Other climbs, both technical and non-technical, are also offered that are not part of the climbing courses. The Ski-Mountaineering Course, which was reactivated in 1963 after a 15-year lapse, continued to provide excellent ski touring and winter climbing opportunities.

Especially notable in 1964 was the extensive program of outings. These included a climbers’ outing in the Tetons with a side trip for an ascent of Devils Tower; an attempt at Mount McKinley by the Tacoma Branch which was stopped by bad weather; a successful climb of McKinley a few weeks later by a Seattle group, the largest party (15) ever to reach that summit; and a climbing group which made several new routes and a first ascent in the remote Chilliwack group in Washington’s North Cascades. Two non-climbing outings were also held. One was a back-packing trip making a 35-mile circle tour east of Ross Lake in the North Cascades, the other a hiking and picture-taking group based at Diamond Head in Garibaldi Provincial Park in British Columbia.

Stan Jensen, Climbing Committee Chairman