Alpine Beginners Course (C1)

NSAC C1 Summer 2025: registration opens on January 6th!

Do you aspire to be an expert in alpine climbing, but you have little to no experience? This course will be the starting point for you! All basic alpine skills are taught through an extensive approach of a mix of exercises and tours. You will be introduced various hiking and climbing techniques in both rock, snow and ice terrain. You will learn rope techniques, orientation and many other alpine skills, such as weather forecasting and danger recognition. The course is designed to give you a solid foundation to make simple tours independently.

The above video gives a good impression of what a NSAC C1 course can look like.

Goal of the course

The NSAC aims to ensure that participants have at least mastered the following points at the end of the course. The precise implementation of the course cannot be determined in advance because of factors such as the weather and the level and condition of participants at the beginning of the course.

  • Introduction to the Alps and mountaineering
  • Learn about how to move in all types of basic terrain (rock, snow, ice). This is the foundation for every mountaineer, therefore there is a lot of attention to this aspect during the course.
  • Learn how to safely cross a glacier
  • Learn the basics of how to belay in different types of terrain
  • Learn how to plan, prepare and lead simple tours
  • Learn about alpine danger recognition
  • Learn about the theoretical components (weather, avalanche, material etc.)
  • The participant will control the following rescue techniques: Seilrolle-glacier, self-rescue from crevasse (prusik and Münchhausen)
  • The participant will be able to make F/L tours independently

Entry requirements

  • You are an active SAC member, meaning you paid your contribution to one of 14 SAC’s that are member to NSAC.
  • You are a student and are able to show proof of registration with your educational institution. If you are not currently studying, you can still register for a C1 course, provided you are 24 years old or younger at the time registration closes. An exception to this age limit applies to ZeeSAC members.

Selection criteria

To be demonstrated before the kick-off

  • Good stamina (distance) – you are able to walk 20 km with a backpack of 10 kg within 5 hours. Additionally, you can run 7.5km within 45 minutes OR cycle 50km within 2 hours.

will be tested during the kick-off

  • Good stamina (altimeters) – you are able to make 500 altimeters an hour in easy terrain.
  • Climbing level – you are able to climb 4th degree routes on climbing shoes.
  • Rope techniques – tie into glacier rope, belay using the Munter hitch (HMS), rappelling, rewoven figure-eight knot
  • Rescue techniques – you are able to safely execute a Seilrolle and you are able to make prusik ascends
  • Knots – you are able to tie a double figure-eight knot, a rewoven figure-eight knot, a Munter hitch, a Clove hitch, a prusik knot and a rewoven prusik knot

Selection process

This year a preselection will be made prior to the kick-off, to reduce the pressure on the day itself. The preselection will be made on the two stamina requirements, which are as follows:

  1. You are able to run 7.5km in 45 minutes OR bike 50km within 2 hours. It’s up to you to choose one of these two.
  2. You are able to walk 20km with a backpack of 10kg on your back. Target time is within 5 hours. If you’re not able to make it in this time, it won’t exclude you from participating in the kick-off, but we would urge you to reconsider your application.

These stamina requirements will be checked using Strava recordings. Note that these Strava recordings have to be dated at or after January 1st 2025!

The kick-off will take place on Saturday March 29th 2025 at the USC Universum in Amsterdam. On this day, the entry requirements are tested. These requirements are necessary to ensure that participants are skillful enough to follow the course, so that the focus of the course itself can be placed on techniques that can’t be practiced in the Netherlands. It is therefore important to meet these requirements. Thus, for this reason the kick-off day is mandatory for everyone.

Most SACs will organize a course where you can learn and practice rope skill, rescue techniques and knots. If you want to know if and when this course will be held, contact your SAC.

Dates

Kick-off day: March 29th at the USC Universum in Amsterdam. After registration closes you will get more information about this day.

Preparation evening: After the publication of the assigned course groups, each group will arrange for a preparation evening. This evening is planned in coordination with the instructors and participants.

Course: All courses are given between the start of July and the end of August. The C1 will be 7 days (6 nights). You will be assigned by the ZP Committee to a given week. You can specify your preferred weeks in the registration form. If you are selected for a course, we will do our best to assign you to one of your preferred weeks, but we cannot guarantee this. In addition, we strive for interSACial course groups. The ZP Committee aims to announce the allocation in late April or early May so that you can plan the rest of your summer holidays.

Costs

The costs of the C1 course in 2024 are estimated to be €830. (non-students pay an additional €40 since the NSAC contribution only goes to students). This includes expenses for instructors, half board for the course week and the kick-off day, but without travel expenses, gear and tour food.

To take part in the course you first have to make a €150 deposit. You can transfer this to NSAC NL43 SNSB 0339 8155 07. Make sure to put your name and the course you want to follow in the description.

The costs for the kick-off day amount to €20. If after this day it turns out you’re not selected, the remaining €130 of your deposit will be transferred back to your bank account.

Register

Registration for the alpine beginners course (C1) open on January 6th 2025!

Registration closes on February 16th 2025 at 23:59.

More information

For more information, please email zp@nsac.alpenclub.nl. The NKBV Knowledge Centre may also be able to help you further. For the equipment needed, see the NSAC ZP Packing List.

Note: We advise course participants to take out cancellation insurance! Be timely with this.