Crevasse Rescue and Glacier Travel Course
Gain Skills. Go further.
This two-day course focuses on the skills needed for crevasse rescue and glacier travel, specifically for skiers and snowboarders. Our crevasse rescue and glacier travel course will give you the base knowledge to further your ski and splitboard mountaineering pursuits.
Participants will learn about the latest tools available for efficient crevasse rescue operations in the backcountry. Emphasis will be placed on hands-on practice, ensuring you know how to respond if a member of your group falls into a crevasse. Key topics will include:
- Securing the rest of the group.
- Setting up an anchor using skis or a snowboard, v-threads
- 3:1, 5:1, drop-loop haul systems, rope ascension and rappelling
- Glacier travel methodology, terrain management, tying into a rope, travelling roped up, probing and track setting/ route finding
By the end of the course, you’ll have the confidence and skills needed to act quickly and effectively in a rescue situation.
Course Format
Day 1: Technical Systems
– Morning:
– Meet the guides and sign waivers
– Head into the field
– Introduction knots and rescue systems
– Hands-on practice session focusing on load transfers, haul systems, anchors, rope ascension and rappelling – Situation assessment and decision-making
– Calling for help
Day 2: Glacier Travel
-Location:Rogers Pass
– Spend the day touring on one of the glaciers in Rogers Pass.
– Key focus areas include:
– Arresting a fall
-ice screw anchors -Roped travel -Terrain management/route finding -Whiteout navigation
Throughout the course, participants will develop the skills to make informed decisions while enhancing their ability to execute a rescue effectively.
Price: $350+GST
Max six participants
Dates:
December 7,8
December 14,15
December 21,22, 2024
Alternative dates are available upon request if you have a group of three or more.
Instructors:
Arctos Guides have years of experience in glaciated terrain and specialized training in crevasse rescue. We are certified by the Canadian Avalanche Association and the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides.
Gear List
Crevasse Rescue Course
Equipment list
- Shovel
- Probe
- Transceiver (3-antenna)
- Ski touring skis or splitboard
- Skins
- Personal repair kit specific to your equipment
- Ski touring boots/snowboarding boots
- Ski poles
- Headlamp
- Goggles
- Sunglasses
- Personal first aid supplies
- Toque
- Minimum 1L water bottle or Thermos
- Gore-tex (or equivalent) jacket
- Gore-tex (or equivalent) pants
- Puffy jacket
- Warm layers for upper and lower body adequate for below freezing temperatures and wind
- Thick gloves
- Spare gloves
- Lightweight harness (if possible otherwise climbing harness will work)
- 3 locking carabiners
- 1 triple action captive eye locking carabiner
- 3 non-locking carabiners
- 240cm sewn sling (or 5m of webbing)
- 5m x 6mm accessory cord
- Personal prussik
- Micro-traxion (optional)
- Tibloc (optional)
- Ice screw (between 12-22cm)
- 40L backpack
- Ice Axe