Mountaineering
Mazamas + Peak Recovery Basic Climb Education Program (BCEP)
Partnering with Mazamas, Portland’s 128 year old mountaineering education nonprofit
Peak Recovery is excited to partner with the Mazamas to sponsor a FREE recovery team as a part of their 2024 Basic Climb Education Program (BCEP). This 8-week intro to mountaineering course is open to anyone who identifies as being in mental health and/or substance use recovery. The Mazamas are a Portland-based nonprofit with a 128-year history of climbing, hiking, and protecting the mountains of the Pacific Northwest.
Our Mazamas + Peak Recovery BCEP course provides students with the knowledge and skills required to safely climb outdoor rock and snow-capped mountains. BCEP is an intensive 8-week program that includes weekly online learning modules, team practice sessions, hands-on field sessions, and conditioning hikes. Discussions will center on the tools and training needed for climbing – like proper nutrition, gear, safety, and techniques. Field sessions will be a chance to practice basic rock and snow skills in the wild.
Our Mazamas + Peak Recovery BCEP team will consist of up to 12 students, a team leader, and several assistant instructors. Through this immersive learning opportunity, students will get to build community, confidence, and recovery capital all while learning to collaborate in nature. Our hope is that those who graduate from this course will leave knowing that nature and movement are accessible and powerful recovery tools.
BCEP is the most time intensive and physically demanding course Peak Recovery offers. BCEP includes two overnight weekend skills sessions — rock and snow — and weekly conditioning hikes ranging from 6-14 miles with 2,500-5,000 feet of elevation gain. Due to limited class size and high demand, we only accept students who are able to attend ALL classroom and field sessions.
Students are required to provide their own gear and equipment for this course (see Required Student Gear below).
When completing an application, please fill out BOTH waivers- blue buttons below:
Course Information
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Reguired Participant Gear
• Climbing Harness (1)
• Climbing Helmet (1)
• Belay Device (1)
• “Third Hand” Rappel Backup (1)
• Large Locking Carabiner (2)
• Medium Locking Carabiner (3)
• Small Locking Carabiner (1)
• Medium Non-Locking Carabiner (1)
• Double Length Runner (120 CM) (2)
• 5 or 6MM Accessory Cord (20 FT) (1)Additional Gear
• Mountaineering Boots (Crampon Compatibale)
• Ice Axe
• Crampons
• Compass With Adjustable Declination -
March 5, 2024 • 6:30pm-9pm
Breakout Session #1
Meeting Location: Tabor Space Day Hall : 5441 SE Belmont Street, Portland, Oregon 97215March 9, 2024 • 9am-12pm
Knot & Belay Practice
Meeting Location: TBDMarch 10, 2024 • 8am-5pm
Conditioning Hike #1
Meeting Location: BPA RoadMarch 12, 2024 • 6:30pm-9pm
Breakout Session #2
Meeting Location: Tabor Space Day Hall : 5441 SE Belmont Street, Portland, Oregon 97215March 17, 2024 • 8am-5pm
Conditioning Hike #2
Meeting Location: Hardy RidgeMarch 19, 2024 • 6:30pm-9pm
Breakout Session #3
Meeting Location: Tabor Space Day Hall : 5441 SE Belmont Street, Portland, Oregon 97215March 23, 2024 • 8am-5pm
Conditioning Hike #3
Meeting Location: Cook HillMarch 24, 2024 • 8am-11am
MMC Practice #1
Meeting Location: Mazamas Mountaineering CenterMarch 26, 2024 • 6:30pm-9pm
Breakout Session #4
Meeting Location: Tabor Space Day Hall : 5441 SE Belmont Street, Portland, Oregon 97215March 30-31, 2024 • Overnight
Snow Skills Weekend
Meeting Location: Mt. Hood/Mazamas Lodge
• March 30, 2024: All-day with overnight at Mazamas Lodge in Government Camp
• March 31, 2024: All-day Conditioning Hike #4 at Palmer GlacierApril 2, 2024 • 6:30pm-9pm
Breakout Session #5
Meeting Location: Tabor Space Day Hall : 5441 SE Belmont Street, Portland, Oregon 97215April 4, 2024 • 6:30pm-9pm
Navigation Practice
Meeting Location: TBDApril 9, 2024 • 6:30pm-9pm
Breakout Session #6
Meeting Location: Tabor Space Day Hall : 5441 SE Belmont Street, Portland, Oregon 97215April 13, 2024 • 8am-5pm
Conditioning Hike #5
Meeting Location: Elk King TraverseApril 14, 2024 • 4pm-7pm
MMC Practice #2
Meeting Location: Mazamas Mountaineering CenterApril 20-21, 2024 • Overnight
Rock Skills Weekend
Meeting Location: Horsethief Butte/Memaloose Campground
• April 20, 2024: All-day with overnight at Memaloose Campground
• April 21, 2024: All-day Conditioning Hike #6, at Bald ButteApril 28, 2024 • 8am-11am
BCEP Final Assessment
Mazamas Mountaineering CenterApril 28, 2024 • 4pm-6pm
BCEP Graduation Party
Alano Club of PortlandDue to limited class size and high demand, we can only accept applicants who are able to attend ALL course sessions.
Follow our us on Instagram @peakrecoverypnw to stay up to date on future courses.
“Mountains are a source of both frustration and inspiration, and the challenges we face when climbing mountains can often mirror the struggles we face in life. But it is in those moments of struggle that we often find the most growth and healing.”
“It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.”
~ Sir Edmund Hillary