BMC FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is absolutely necessary to travel safely and enjoyably in the mountains? (Choose all that apply)
Technical Knowledge
Skills
Expensive Gear
Excellent weather - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Technical Knowledge
Skills
True or False? Mental attitude can determine success or failure in mountaineering.
True - you can summit anything with enough willpower
True - the ability to keep a clear, calm mind is critical to decision-making ability.
False - physical fitness is the only critical factor
False - mental attitude is not important - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅True - the ability to keep a clear, calm
mind is critical to decision-making ability.
What is the purpose of the Climbing Code?
To provide a step-by-step formula for reaching summits and avoiding danger
To define appropriate protocol if one member of the party falls behind
To establish a set of guidelines that encourage safe mountaineering
All of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅To establish a set of guidelines that encourage safe
mountaineering
What is the most effective way of using clothing to stay warm and regulate your body temperature
while climbing?
Layering with cotton materials
Layering with non-cotton materials
Wearing an all-in-one cotton layer
Wearing an all-in-one non-cotton layer - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Layering with non-cotton materials
,Wet clothes made of what material are worse than no clothes at all in keeping you warm?
Wool
Cotton
Nylon
Down
None of the above. Anything will help at least a little bit. - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Cotton
Synthetic insulation is lighter, warmer and more compressible than down. It is however generally more
expensive and loses its insulating value when it gets wet.
True
False - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅False
Boots with high uppers and a rigid sole (1/2 to full shank) are most suitable for mountaineering because:
They allow a climber to stand on small rock nubbins and narrow rock edges
They are rigid enough to be used with crampons
They are stiff enough to allow steps to be kicked in hard snow
They give adequate foot/ankle support on rough trails
All of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅All of the above
When wearing a pack, you will generally feel best if the load is concentrated at:
Your hips
Your shoulders
Your upper back - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Your hips
List the 5 of the 10 essentials necessary to prevent emergencies and respond positively should one
occur. - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅First aid, headlamp, navigation, sun protection, knife
List the 5 of the 10 essentials necessary to safely spend a night, or more, outside - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Shelter, fire, extra food, extra water, extra clothes
,Contour lines that are extremely close together or touching indicates what topographic feature?
River
Handrail
Steep terrain or cliff
Park boundary - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Steep terrain or cliff
When taking a compass reading, why is it important to keep the compass away from metal objects?
The reflective surfaces of metal can make the compass hard to read
Metallic objects can deflect the magnetic compass needle
Compasses are delicate and could be easily damaged by the sharp edges on metal objects - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Metallic objects can deflect the magnetic compass needle
What is Orientation?
The art of selecting and following the best path to your objective.
The science of determining the location of your objective and reaching it.
The science of finding your exact position on the Earth. - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅The science of finding
your exact position on the Earth.
What is Navigation?
The art of selecting and following the best path to your objective.
The science of determining the location of your objective and reaching it.
The science of finding your exact position on the Earth. - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅The science of
determining the location of your objective and reaching it.
What is Route-finding?
The art of selecting and following the best path to your objective.
The science of determining the location of your objective and reaching it.
The science of finding your exact position on the Earth. - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅The art of selecting
and following the best path to your objective.
, The magnetic needle of your compass is needed for measuring and plotting bearings on a map.
True
False - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅False
The magnetic declination in the Seattle area is closest to:
0 deg
16 deg W
16 deg E
20 deg E
40 deg W - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅16 deg E
Altimeters can aid mountaineers in which of the following ways? (Choose all that apply)
Calculating your party's rate of ascent or descent
Determining your position on a map and navigating
Telling you when it's time for lunch
Predicting the weather - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Calculating your party's rate of ascent or descent
Determining your position on a map and navigating
Predicting the weather
Which of the following is a limitation of GPS devices?
They can be damaged
They generally are not a great substitute for a physical map
They generally won't work in extreme temperatures
They can be unreliable if they can't pick up enough satellite signals
They depend on batteries
All of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅All of the above
What is absolutely necessary to travel safely and enjoyably in the mountains? (Choose all that apply)
Technical Knowledge
Skills
Expensive Gear
Excellent weather - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Technical Knowledge
Skills
True or False? Mental attitude can determine success or failure in mountaineering.
True - you can summit anything with enough willpower
True - the ability to keep a clear, calm mind is critical to decision-making ability.
False - physical fitness is the only critical factor
False - mental attitude is not important - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅True - the ability to keep a clear, calm
mind is critical to decision-making ability.
What is the purpose of the Climbing Code?
To provide a step-by-step formula for reaching summits and avoiding danger
To define appropriate protocol if one member of the party falls behind
To establish a set of guidelines that encourage safe mountaineering
All of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅To establish a set of guidelines that encourage safe
mountaineering
What is the most effective way of using clothing to stay warm and regulate your body temperature
while climbing?
Layering with cotton materials
Layering with non-cotton materials
Wearing an all-in-one cotton layer
Wearing an all-in-one non-cotton layer - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Layering with non-cotton materials
,Wet clothes made of what material are worse than no clothes at all in keeping you warm?
Wool
Cotton
Nylon
Down
None of the above. Anything will help at least a little bit. - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Cotton
Synthetic insulation is lighter, warmer and more compressible than down. It is however generally more
expensive and loses its insulating value when it gets wet.
True
False - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅False
Boots with high uppers and a rigid sole (1/2 to full shank) are most suitable for mountaineering because:
They allow a climber to stand on small rock nubbins and narrow rock edges
They are rigid enough to be used with crampons
They are stiff enough to allow steps to be kicked in hard snow
They give adequate foot/ankle support on rough trails
All of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅All of the above
When wearing a pack, you will generally feel best if the load is concentrated at:
Your hips
Your shoulders
Your upper back - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Your hips
List the 5 of the 10 essentials necessary to prevent emergencies and respond positively should one
occur. - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅First aid, headlamp, navigation, sun protection, knife
List the 5 of the 10 essentials necessary to safely spend a night, or more, outside - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Shelter, fire, extra food, extra water, extra clothes
,Contour lines that are extremely close together or touching indicates what topographic feature?
River
Handrail
Steep terrain or cliff
Park boundary - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Steep terrain or cliff
When taking a compass reading, why is it important to keep the compass away from metal objects?
The reflective surfaces of metal can make the compass hard to read
Metallic objects can deflect the magnetic compass needle
Compasses are delicate and could be easily damaged by the sharp edges on metal objects - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Metallic objects can deflect the magnetic compass needle
What is Orientation?
The art of selecting and following the best path to your objective.
The science of determining the location of your objective and reaching it.
The science of finding your exact position on the Earth. - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅The science of finding
your exact position on the Earth.
What is Navigation?
The art of selecting and following the best path to your objective.
The science of determining the location of your objective and reaching it.
The science of finding your exact position on the Earth. - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅The science of
determining the location of your objective and reaching it.
What is Route-finding?
The art of selecting and following the best path to your objective.
The science of determining the location of your objective and reaching it.
The science of finding your exact position on the Earth. - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅The art of selecting
and following the best path to your objective.
, The magnetic needle of your compass is needed for measuring and plotting bearings on a map.
True
False - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅False
The magnetic declination in the Seattle area is closest to:
0 deg
16 deg W
16 deg E
20 deg E
40 deg W - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅16 deg E
Altimeters can aid mountaineers in which of the following ways? (Choose all that apply)
Calculating your party's rate of ascent or descent
Determining your position on a map and navigating
Telling you when it's time for lunch
Predicting the weather - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Calculating your party's rate of ascent or descent
Determining your position on a map and navigating
Predicting the weather
Which of the following is a limitation of GPS devices?
They can be damaged
They generally are not a great substitute for a physical map
They generally won't work in extreme temperatures
They can be unreliable if they can't pick up enough satellite signals
They depend on batteries
All of the above - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅All of the above
