Quick Details
So you’ve got the passion and dedication to pursue your dreams in the mountains, what’s stopping you? Experience. The Alpine Leadership Mentorship Program was designed to support both rock and alpine climbers, and backcountry skiers and snowboarders in their quests to advance their skills and reach their true potential. Whether you would like to learn new techniques, increase your movement efficiency, practice real-time decision making, or simply spend more time outdoors; your desire to progress led you to this page. A professional mountain guide will be your mentor as you grow in experience and gain confidence, which ultimately leads to RESULTS. The program is the culmination of all Kaf programming, but it is unique in that you will receive an individualized education plan built for you. You’ll join a small team of dedicated outdoor enthusiasts as you hone your technical and leadership skills. Imagine all the wild places that could take you one, three, or even five years from now!
Twice per year, a small group of dedicated individuals are accepted into the program. Upon enrollment, certified rock and alpine guide Mick Pearson will work with you individually to develop a personalized training plan that encompasses both technical skills and physical training objectives. Mick’s role as a mentor is to support you by:
As part of the Alpine Leadership Mentorship program, you’ll utilize a digital platform to help you learn the technical skills needed to be a rock climber, alpinist, or winter traveler. The platform is complete with a video library that is accessible to you anytime. The program also includes video conferences and online discussions to cover group learning targets. Some of the many topics include; equipment, techniques, routes, weather conditions, and problem solving. The online component of the program allows members to engage in self-paced learning, with limitless resources.Â
The other major component of the program is community. You will meet in person regularly for training, workouts, and mentorship of technical skills. Also included are voluntary group climbing days to develop skills and gain experience together. Perhaps the greatest benefit of the community program is that it creates accountability partners to challenge and uplift you, pushing you to reach your full potential. This program is truly special, because it is the pinnacle of what Kaf stands for as an organization. This is our dream for you.
The Alpine Leadership Mentorship Program was created with the ultimate goal of backcountry proficiency in mind. You’re a good fit for the program if you’re any combination if of the following types of people:
Mentees will walk away with:
To be admitted into the program you must meet the following requirements:
Because this is a mentorship program, the skills taught are based on each person’s individual needs. Learning targets will be customized for each mentee and their unique goals. Our aim is for folks to walk away with confidence in the following areas:
*indicates December-April mentorship focus
Summer Mentorship: May – November (7 month commitment)
Winter Mentorship: December – April (5 month commitment)
 The program has 3 payment options:
1) Annual – 1-time payment of $3,000
2) Bi-Annual –
Summer:Â 1-time payment of $1,925
Winter: 1-time payment of $1,375
3) Monthly – $295 per month (requires 5 or 7-month commitment period depending on season)
Â
Hidden costs may include travel, food, and lodging while away. Opportunity costs of time away from home.
Â
Specific dates for the program are decided upon by the group rather than published, but a general idea of annual scheduling looks like:
MayÂ
Navigation
Rock Rescue
Crevasse rescue
Â
JuneÂ
4 rock climbing or scramble week day trips
Navigation
Backpacking
Sport Climbing skills
Â
July
4 rock climbing or single climb week day trips
Glacier Travel
Crevasse Rescue
Trad climbing Fundamentals
Â
AugustÂ
4 rock climbing or single climb week day trips
Alpine Climbing
Trad Lead Climbing
Â
September
4 rock climbing or single climb week day trips
Alpine Climbing
Multi-pitch
Â
OctoberÂ
Smith Rock
Multi-pitch
Rock climbing
Â
NovemberÂ
Week long trip in Red Rock, NV or Joshua Tree, CA
Multi-pitch
Rock climbing
Â
DecemberÂ
Winter Navigation
Avalanche Education
Ski instruction
Â
JanuaryÂ
Ice climbing
Backcountry skiing & snowboarding
Â
February
Backcountry skiing & snowboarding
March
Rock Rescue
Ski mountaineering
Â
AprilÂ
Mountaineering
Rock Climbing
Ski Mountaineering
May
4 – 5, 11, 25 – 27
Half Days – 3, 6, 10
June
1-2, 8, 22, 29 – 30
Half Days – 4, 18, 7, 21
July
5 – 7, 14 – 16 Glacier Peak, 20 – 21, 27 – 28
Half Days – 9, 23, 30
August
4, 10 – 11, 16, 24 – 25, 31
September
1 – 2, 21 – 22, 28 – 29
October
5 – 6, 12 – 13, 26 – 27
NovemberÂ
1 – 4 – Red Rock, NV.
8 – 11 – Joshua Tree, CA.
Although the mentorship program happens digitally. Meetups take place in public parks or locations convenient for training sessions or workouts.
Volunteer climbs with mentees take place in Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and California.
Places mentees have climbed include:
To start the registration process, please fill out the intake form below. Plan for 15 to 20 minutes to complete the form. Please be considerate in your answers. If you are dedicated to personal growth, this is our best way we can support you. Your intake form will go into your record, and will allow Mick to follow up with you directly via a phone call to discuss the program and begin the registration process.