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Mountaineering Super Course
Register for course

Course Rundown

Accommodation

5 nights accommodation is included. Either Hostel Bear, Canmore's ACC Club House, Banff Hostel, Lake Louise Hostel, Icefields Parkway hostels, Conrad Kain Hut in the Bugaboos or Wheeler Hut at Rogers Pass.

Food

Food is not included

Course Cost:
$1300.00 per person based on 4 participants
5% GST (Goods & Services Tax)

Duration:

6 days, accommodation is included. Discount available if the course is Canmore based and you have local accommodation already

Location:

Different possible locations: Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise and/or Columbia Icefields Parkway, all in the Canadian Rockies, Bugaboo Provincial Park , Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park

Guide to client ratio:

1:2 on technical ascent days, otherwise 1:4

Fitness:

Good fitness

Ability:

Introductory

Prerequisites:

None

Ages:

17 years old and up

Equipment:

All equipment is included

Transportation:

Transport is not included or add transport at $25.00 a day

Booking deadline:
n/a

Mountaineering Super Course

Course Description

*Note: This course may be broken up into two segments. More info.

This is the premier introductory course to mountaineering skills in Canada.

A fully comprehensive program recommended for participants who wish to acquire the full arsenal of mountaineering skills in order to be self-sufficient in all mountaineering mediums - snow, ice, rock and mixed terrain. 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:

Fully comprehensive curriculum: Course provides the complete set of soft and hard skills required for snow, rock, ice and mixed mountaineering.
Low Guide to Participant Ratio’s: Distinctive shift from the norm. Where usually a 1:6 guide to participant ratio is provided throughout the course, we have extremely low guide to student ratio. 1 to 2 ratio for the technical mountaineering days and 1:4 for the technical skills days. This allows for personalized mentoring, the ability to accomplish more complex and technical objectives which only allow for 1 to 2 ratio’s. 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 4 evening sessions. We are then able to focus our time and energy on skills development while also covering the full spectrum of necessary curriculum which would otherwise take 7 full days. 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: 62 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 4 technical skills days and 2 challenging mountaineering days. One of these is a technical snow and ice objective, while the other a technical alpine rock mountaineering day.
Flexible time commitment: Though we recommend taking this course as one block, we do offer the option to break the course into two segments of different dates. More info.
All inclusive: Price includes all necessary high quality equipment and 6 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.

Bugaboos & Rogers Pass Trips
When we travel to stay at either 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 $195.00 ($33.00 a day) extra for all 6 out-trip meals. 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 09:00 meet at GearUp Rentals, Canmore

Morning Meeting: Coffee or tea, review current weather and day plan, Q & A session, brief on the days agenda, equipment check.
Drive: Drive to local outdoor rescue practice area.
Lesson 1 Glacier formation, physiology, terminology and travel- hand out
Lesson 2 Introduction to summer Glacier Kit
Lesson 3 Knots The Münter hitch, clove hitch and figure eight on a bite
Introduction to prussics
Lesson 4: Rappelling with safety backup prussic
Lesson 5: Ascending the rope with 2 prussics
Lesson 6: Diverse ratchets (prussic. Garda, Reverso, Plaquette, Ropeman, T-bloc)
Lesson 8: Ascend the rope with preferred ratchet, reverse and rappel.

Lesson 9 Situational Awareness, review hazards.
Glacier Travel rope handling & Crevasse Rescue – direct haul system & drop loop
Lesson 10 Dividing the rope - tying into the rope/triple action carabiner, stowing extra rope.
Lesson 11 The prussic - tying in, daisy chaining and deploying.
Lesson 12 Arresting the fall, strategies for holding the victim while building an anchor - testing the fall arrest.
Lesson 13 Building an anchor - which team member builds an anchor strategies, summer glacier anchor types – ice screw anchor and ice axe t-slot anchor
Lesson 14 Transferring the load and backing up the anchor - dealing with the rescue rope.
Lesson 15 Surface rope team members approach the anchor, approaching the lip. Above firnline: padding the lip, probing technique and securing the lip pad.
Lesson 16 Summer glacier direct haul technique as well as Canadian drop loop system demo - measuring, dropping and clipping the drop loop.
Lesson 17 Incorporating a ratchet - different types of ratchets
Lesson 18 First raise method, z-pulley raising system, adding advantage.
Lesson 19 Reversing the raise to a lower, the block and tackle, the münter hitch and münter mule tie off- lowering & resetting to a raise.
Lesson 20 Crevasse Rescue Scenario: Victim falls into a snow plug, is injured, needs first aid and the rope bites into the lip. Descend to victim, administer, stabilize them, ascend rope and evacuate victim from crevasse.
Lesson 21 Problem Solving: insufficient rope, middle person is crevasse victim.
Back to hut/hostel

Day two 7:00 meet at Rocky Mtn. Bagel Co. Main Street, Canmore

Morning Meeting: Coffee or tea, review current weather, review day plan, Q & A session, brief on the days agenda, safety discussion and equipment
Potentially drive and approach to course venue - 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).
or
Drive to a local glacier - Athabasca, Lower Victoria, Crowfoot etc
Environment: Leave no trace and wildlife discussion review
Lesson 22 Rope up point strategy (map & altimeter)
Lesson 23 White out plan discussion
Lesson 24 Glacier formation, physiology, terminology and travel Lesson 25 Glacier travel rope handling - dividing the rope reviewed
Lesson 26 Taking coils
Lesson 27 Safe glacier travel route finding and track setting - crevasse avoidance, serac hazard mitigation, snow plug & crevasse bridge - integrity and evaluation
Lesson 28 Traveling in echelon
Lesson 29 When and how to belay across snow plug & crevasse bridges
Lesson 30 Re-grouping and spacing on a glacier
Lesson 31 Above firn line safety strategy
Meeting At hut/hostel Guide room and evening session: 16:30- 17:30
Lesson 32 Weather and conditions forecasting & assessment
Lesson 33 Collecting and recording pertinent field weather and conditions
Lesson 34 Introduction to mountaineering equipment and the mountain back pack
Lesson 35 Alpine snow & ice route strategy
Back to hut/hostel

Day three 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.
Potentially drive and approach to course venue - 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 36 Mountain Environment: Leave no trace and wildlife discussion.
Lesson 37 Snow School: Movement on Snow with piolet cannes positions (kicking steps, cross step, rest step)
Lesson 38 Snow School: Use of Ice Axes, chopping steps, piolet traction position, ice climbing, down climbing and dealing with low angled ice
Lesson 39 Snow School: How to Self Arrest in different positions
Lesson 40 Snow and ice mountaineering anchors: ice screws, t-slots, snow/ice bollards, snow pickets, v-thread and improvised anchors
Lesson 41 Crevasse rescue from a real crevasse- team rescue scenario
Lesson 42 Introduction to short roping and taking coils
Lesson 43 Body and terrain belays in snow & ice terrain
Lesson 44 Mountaineering rope handling
Lesson 45 Situational awareness, recognizing and anticipating transitions- changing from roped, belayed, short roped and unroped methods in snow/ice conditions
Lesson 46 Alpine ice climbing technique- ice, névé, mixed mediums & placing protection
Lesson 47 Climb an alpine ice & snow objective
Lesson 48 Glissading
Day Debrief
Evening Meeting at hut/hostel 16:30-17:30
Discuss Next Day Objectives, weather and conditions
Lesson 49 The mountain environment- risk and hazard management- recognize and mitigate (overnight freeze, rockfall, cornice, crevasse, steep terrain etc)
Lesson 50 Mountain sense and route finding
Lesson 51 Alpine snow & ice route strategy
Back to hut/hostel

Day four 7:00 meeting at hostel or hut TBA

Morning Meeting: Coffee or tea, Review, Q & A session, Days agenda, equipment check.
Lesson 52 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
Back to hut/hostel
Discuss Next Day Objectives
Assignment: Next days route and trip plan

Day five early (TBA) meeting at hostel or hut TBA

Morning Meeting: Coffee or tea, Review, Q & A session, Days agenda, equipment check.
Lesson 53 Introduction and overview of Alpine rock anchors, terrain anchors and gear placement
Lesson 54 Introduction to Piton craft- anchor assessment
Lesson 55 Use of Terrain Belays, Body Belays in alpine rock terrain
Lesson 56 Alpine ridges- long roping, end roping, counter balance belay- simul-climbing
Lesson 57 Situational awareness, recognizing and anticipating transitions- changing from roped, belayed, short roped and un-roped methods in alpine rock conditions
Lesson 57 Alpine rock climbing technique
Lesson 58 Climbing an alpine ridge
Lesson 59 Alpine rock route rappelling/lowers
Day Debrief
Evening Session 16:30-18:00 – Meeting at hut/hostel
Lesson 60 Basic Navigation and route planning: Use of map and compass. Route and time plan.
Lesson 61 Alpine rock route strategy
Discuss Next Day Objectives
Assignment: Next days route and trip plan

Day six early (TBA) meeting at hostel or hut TBA

Morning Meeting: Coffee or tea, Review, Q & A session, Days agenda, equipment check.
Lesson 62 Challenging alpine rock or mixed climbing objective
Evaluate participants Weather Observations and route/trip plans
Participants will apply all of the above skills learned throughout the week to safely ascend a challenging alpine rock or mixed climbing objective. Guides will help coach and direct on all group decisions. The objective will involve mainly multi-pitch rock, or rock & ice/snow, sometimes with a glacier approach. Weather and conditions will be the deciding factor on where we go.
Return equipment at GearUp sports
Meeting: Alpine Club house - Canmore
Day debrief
Course debrief
Student Assessments and recommendations
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. 6 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 extra 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 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 $195.00 ($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

* 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
* 1 set of cams
* 1 set of stoppers
* 1 nut tool
* Chalk bag
* 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 a good lunch, with plenty of fluids and high energy snacks that will see you through whole day in the mountains.

Other
n/a

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 7 - 12, 2012	$1300.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
August 4 - 9, 2012	$1300.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
Please contact MSA directly for alternative dates with pre-organized groups	$1300.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
n/a	$1300.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
n/a	$1300.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
n/a	$1300.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
n/a	$1300.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
n/a	$1300.00 + 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	$1300.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
3 People	$1560.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
2 People	$1760.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
1 Person	$3200.00 + 5% GST		Inquire

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