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Introduction to Basic Mountaineering
Register for course

Course Rundown

Accommodation

1 evening accomodation is inlcuded. Discount available if the course is Canmore based and you have local accommodation allready

Food

Meals are not included- there are kitchen facilities and meal packages available

Course Cost:
$400.00 based on 4 participants
5% GST (Goods & Services Tax)

Duration:

2 days

Location:

TBA- Depending on conditions: Canadian Rockies, Purcels or Selkirks

Guide to client ratio:

1:4 and 1:2 if second day is very technical

Fitness:

Good fitness

Ability:

Introductory

Prerequisites:

Previous advanced crevasse rescue course or equivalent experience: Equivalent experience should be at the same standard as MSA Summer Crevasse Rescue and Glacier Travel Course

Ages:

This course is appropriate for participants 15 years old and up

Equipment:

All technical equipment is included

Transportation:

Provide your own or add transport for $50.00 for the course (from Canmore)

Booking deadline:

3 weeks before course

Introduction to Basic Mountaineering

Course Description

*Note: Prerequisite: MSA Crevasse Rescue & Glacier Travel course or equal high level experience/previous course

This is the premier introductory course to basic snow and ice mountaineering skills in Canada.

Very comprehensive snow and ice skills program recommended for participants who wish to acquire the full arsenal of snow and ice mountaineering skills in order to be self-sufficient in snow and ice mountaineering that includes a glacier approach. Carefully crafted by leading alpinist' and guides. Melding the best qualities of both the European and Canadian approaches, including a cutting edge course curriculum and methodology, which will allow participants to build a powerful and complete mountain skills foundation assuring full autonomy. Please see course itinerary for full details.

MSA’s commitment to the highest quality and an uncompromising approach:

Very comprehensive curriculum: Course provides the complete set of soft and hard skills required for basic snow and ice mountaineering.
Low Guide to Participant Ratio’s: Distinctive shift from the norm. Low guide to participant ratio, 1:4 on day one and if the objective is more technical on day 2 then 1:2. This allows for personalized mentoring, the ability to accomplish more complex and technical objectives. End result is the most practical and valuable learning experience possible.
World Class Destinations: We run this program either in the Canadian Rockies, based out of Lake Louise, and the Selkirk Mountains based out of the Wheeler Hut in Rogers Pass or Purcell Mountains based out of the Conrad Kain Hut in the Bugaboo Provincial Park.
Conditions flexibility: As we offer our course in several different possible locations without affecting course price, we can always choose the area with the best conditions at the time. During the course our highly experienced guides adapt seamlessly the course structure to any weather and condition changes at the time. Sometimes we will be in one mountain range for part of the course and move to another for the rest of our course.
Intelligent approach and base: As per the European approach, our base camps are comfortable indoor accommodation (huts, hostels) where we can also hold the evening session. We are then able to focus our time and energy on skills development while also covering the full spectrum of necessary curriculum. Camping detracts from meeting course objectives. Camping skills are very simple and basic but time consuming thus we find this is a much better method.
Fully comprehensive curriculum: 17 critical lessons are taught in this intensive course.
Carefully crafted: Designed by leading alpinist and certified IFMGA Mountain Guides incorporating the best of both the European and Canadian approaches.
Expert instruction: Fully certified IFMGA Mountain Guide course leader.
Cutting edge methodology: The course is broken up into 2 technical skills days, one being a technical snow and ice objective.
Flexible time commitment: Though we recommend taking this course immediately preceding the MSA Summer Crevasse Rescue and Glacier Travel Course as one block, we do offer here the option to break the course into the one course for those with *preceding experience or two segments of different dates - taking Crevasse Rescue & Glacier Travel on different dates.
All inclusive: Price includes all necessary high quality equipment and 1 days accommodation.

Option to include all meals at a very affordable rate

!Important Notes: Course Options

We have designed this course to be broken up in two modules for those people who either have previous advanced crevasse rescue experience/course or wish to commit to less consecutive days by taking the MSA Summer - Crevasse Rescue & Glacier Travel course separately on other dates.

Please be advised that if you decide to opt out of the crevasse rescue and glacier travel portion of the course, it is required that you either take the MSA Crevasse Rescue course on a date previous to the Super Course, or that your previous expereince/course in crevasse rescue and glacier travel meets the same advanced **standard as the MSA one. See MSA Crevasse Rescue and Glacier Travel Course

**You will be expected to know the following: Glacier geomorphology (crevasse types, snow-plugs, bridge assessment) safe glacier travel method (roped travel, management, snow/ice anchors), direct haul & drop loop crevasse rescue including rappelling/ ascending in and out of a crevasse as well as self evacuation out of a crevasse.

Icefields Parkway, Bugaboos & Rogers Pass Trips

If we travel to stay at on of the Icefield Parkway hostels or the Wheeler Hut in Rogers Pass or the Conrad Kain Hut in the Bugaboos, we highly recommend that students take the fully catered option which is only $33.00 a day extra (3 meals a day). Meals are professionally made by Backcountry Bistro, they are light and specially designed for caloric value and taste. If the trip is held in the Rockies- cooking facilities and grocery stores make this the best option for that venue.

Course Itinerary

View logistics - Course Equipment, Accommodation, Food and Transportation options view logistics
Equipment List - What to bring?, what not to bring? We can answer those questions view equipment list

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Day One 7:00 meeting at hostel or hut TBA

Morning Meeting: Coffee or tea, review day plan, Q & A session, brief on the days agenda, safety discussion and equipment check
Drive: Carpooling recommended when possible.
Drive and approach to course venue - TBA, hut or hostel could be Canmore (Kananaskis or Rocky Mountains), Lake Louise (Rocky Mountains ), Icefields Parkway (Rocky Mountains) Bugaboos (Purcel Mountains) or Rogers Pass (Selkirk Mountains).
Lesson 1 Mountain Environment: Leave no trace and wildlife discussion.
Lesson 2 Snow School: Movement on Snow with piolet cannes positions (kicking steps, cross step, rest step)
Lesson 3 Snow School: Use of Ice Axes, chopping steps, piolet traction position, ice climbing, down climbing and dealing with low angled ice
Lesson 4 Snow School: How to Self Arrest in different positions
Lesson 5 Snow and ice mountaineering anchors: ice screws, t-slots, snow/ice bollards, snow pickets, v-thread and improvised anchors
Lesson 6 Crevasse rescue from a real crevasse- team rescue scenario
Lesson 7 Introduction to short roping and taking coils
Lesson 8 Body and terrain belays in snow & ice terrain
Lesson 9 Mountaineering rope handling
Lesson 10 Situational awareness, recognizing and anticipating transitions- changing from roped, belayed, short roped and unroped methods in snow/ice conditions
Lesson 11 Alpine ice climbing technique- ice, névé, mixed mediums & placing protection
Lesson 12 Climb an alpine ice & snow objective
Lesson 13 Glissading
Day Debrief
Evening Meeting at hut/hostel 16:30-17:30
Discuss Next Day Objectives, weather and conditions
Lesson 14 The mountain environment- risk and hazard management- recognize and mitigate (overnight freeze, rockfall, cornice, crevasse, steep terrain etc)
Lesson 15 Mountain sense and route finding
Lesson 16 Alpine snow & ice route strategy

Day two 7:00 meeting at hostel or hut TBA

Morning Meeting: Coffee or tea, Review, Q & A session, Days agenda, equipment check.
Lesson 17 Challenging alpine Snow and Ice objective
Evaluate participants Weather Observations and route/trip plans
Participants will apply all of the skills learned to date in order to safely ascend a challenging mountaineering snow and ice objective. Guides provide coaching and direction while helping participants to make independent group decisions. The objective will involve mainly snow and ice with a glacier approach. Weather and snow conditions will be the deciding factor on where we go and if we are able to summit.
Day debrief
Next Steps
Course Closure

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Course Logistics

View Itinerary - A day by day summary of the course view itinerary
Equipment List - What to bring?, what not to bring? We can answer those questions view equipment list

Accommodation

Accommodation is included for this course. 1 nights accommodation, exact location TBA 1 week prior to the course start date. Potential locations are Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise Hostel, Icefields Parkway hostels Conrad Kain Hut in the Bugaboos or Wheeler Hut in Rogers Pass.

Should you require accommodation in Canmore, we have organized for your convenience excellent value accommodation packages with local providers: economy option at the Alpine Club of Canada Clubhouse $30 per night w/ kitchen facilities, superior option at the Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge $123 per night based on double occupancy and luxury options - prices range on luxury level. These choices are made available during the booking process.

Food

Students are responsible for their own food.

For the Icefields, Bugaboos and Rogers Pass trips, we highly recommend that students choose the fully catered option. This provides for all 6 out-trip meals: breakfast, lunch, appetizer, main course and dessert. These meals are pre-cooked and prepared by a specialized professional; Backcountry Bistro, who makes sure the food has high caloric value, is adaptable to peoples food preferences, is light and are fast and easy in preparation. Cost is $33.00 a day.

For your convenience, MSA offers discounted meal deals set up with local providers.

Transportation

Students are responsible for their own transportation. We encourage car- pooling and usually this works out very well. Should you require transportation we can provide transport for $25.00 a day for this course.

Equipment

All necessary mountain climbing equipment is included. See equipment list for everything you will need to bring. If there is anything in the equipment list that you do not have please let us know so that we can make necessary arrangments. It is our pleasure to provide equipment advice.

Please view equipment list

Equipment List

View logistics - Course Equipment, Accommodation, Food and Transportation options view logistics
View Itinerary - A day by day summary of the course view itinerary

Clothing

During the summer months weather conditions are constantly changing. Be prepared for both hot or cold days and even rain. There are several rain protected climbing venues. So please dress according to the forecast for the course days.

* Head Lamp with extra batteries
* Soft shell type climbing pants
* warm top and bottom underlayer
* Synthetic t-shirt
* Mid layer fleece
* Gortex jacket
* Down or synthetic Puffy jacket
* Warm Hat and ballcap
* Warm mountain or ice climbing gloves
* Thinner warmer weather gloves
* Sunglasses and sunscreen.
* Dayback large enough to carry personal and group gear (35-45 L).
* earplugs for hut/hostel
* toiletries
* camera
* toilet paper
• medications if any

Equipment

The following is provided for you: If you already own some or all of this equipment we highly recommend that you use it as it is best to be familiar with your own equipment. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have on this.

* Mountain boots
* Harness
* Helmet
* Mountaineering Axe
* Crampons
* 2 x 60 metre single ropes
* Belay device
* Ice screws
* Snow Picket
* 4 locking carabiners
* 6 non locking carabiners
* 2 sections of 7mm perlon prussic’s of 5 meters length
* 1 section of 7mm perlon prussic of .5 (1/2 meter) length
* 2 double length slings
* 1 set of alpine shoulder length draws

We reccommend that you bring a hiking pole.

Your instructors will further bring

* First aid kit
* Cell phone/satellite phone
* Guides Tarp
* Programmable Radio

Food & Water

For any non catered trips please be sure to pack good meals, with plenty of fluids and high energy snacks that will see you through whole day in the mountains.

You will need two lunches, 1 breakfast and 1 supper.

Other

none

Course Photographs

Fitness Explained

Good Fitness
In good general health- able to walk or ski for at least two hours at a slow pace (including breaks) in undulating terrain. Able to carry a light load (25lbs = 12 kilos).

Very Good Fitness
Exercise regularly (in gym, mountains, etc)- have fairly good cardio. Can walk or ski for several hours (including breaks) over several days in diverse mountain terrain at a moderate pace (including up hill and down hill). Able to carry a moderate load (35-45 lbs = 16- 20 kilos)

Peak Fitness
Follow a routine exercise schedule and may even be training for sports or expeditions. Excellent cardio and good stamina. Able to walk or ski all day at a moderate pace over several days in diverse mountain terrain including steeper uphill and downhill sections. Able to carry moderate loads of (35 to 55lbs = 25 kilos). You feel it would be reasonable for you to acclimatize on peaks.

Ability Explained

Introductory
Suitable for beginner level, no prior experience required.

Intermediate
You have previous experience and a good general knowledge of the sport.

Advanced
You have very good knowledge of the sport developed from regular practice.

Backcountry Skier Ability Level

Type I Beginner
Skis slowly and conservatively. Newer to backcountry skiing, links parallel turns and able to slide slip more difficult sections. Can stop when desired.

Type II Intermediate
Skis at a moderate pace. Links parallel turns in powder and can come to a full stop on demand. Able to handle varied snow conditions and terrain. Has no problem skiing in trees or negotiating short ski crux's (difficult sections).

Type III Advanced
Skis more aggressively, at higher speeds and able to ski advanced terrain. Can handle different snow conditions. Enjoys more technical terrain. No problem handling short cruxes and steeper sections.

Type IV Expert
Aggressive and fast, capable of skiing in all conditions. Able to negotiate difficult sections, ski in couloirs and prolonged steep terrain.

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Course Schedule & Pricing


Scheduled Course Date	Course Price	Register	Inquire
July 9 - 10, 2012	$400.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
August 4 - 5, 2012	$400.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
Please contact MSA directly for alternate dates for pre-organized groups	$400.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
n/a	$400.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
n/a	$400.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
n/a	$400.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
n/a	$400.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
n/a	$400.00 + 5% GST		Inquire

Private Course Option
We also offer our students the option of a private course. Join a group of friends together, let us know your group size and preferred dates. See chart below for private course prices.

*Bonus! The group organizer will save 10%. Single private course also available.


Private Date Option	Course Price	Register	Inquire
4 People	$400.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
3 People	Please enquire with MSA for private pricing.		Inquire
2 People	Please enquire with MSA for private pricing.		Inquire
1 Person	Please enquire with MSA for private pricing.		Inquire

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