Untitled Document

W.H.A.T. Navigation/Trip Planning Course
Register for course

Course Rundown

Accommodation
n/a

Food
n/a

Course Cost:
$380.00 ($126.00 per day) per person based on a minimum of 4 participants
5% GST (Goods & Services Tax)

Duration:

3 days

Location:

Canmore, Alberta

Guide to client ratio:

1:8

Fitness:

Good fitness

Ability:

Intermediate

Prerequisites:

None

Ages:

This course is appropriate for participants 15 years old and up

Equipment:

Course Material

Transportation:

Provide your own or add transport at $20.00 a day on field trips

Booking deadline:
n/a

W.H.A.T. Navigation/Trip Planning Course

Course Description

Whether climbing, skiing or mountaineering, mountain hazards must be mitigated, travel must be planned and one needs to be prepared when poor weather and conditions close in. W.H.A.T. is an indispensable professional level course, whose goal it is to bring several critical skill sets and knowledge base into one logical, methodical approach to create and utilize a specialized unified Trip Plan and Safety Plan. This is then used to safely navigate through mountain terrain irrespective of terrain complexity, poor conditions or inclement weather.

What is W.H.A.T?:

•Weather: Mountain Weather Phenomenon & Forecasting Tutorial - On-line Weather products - In Field Weather Observations

• Hazards: Mountain Hazards Recognition and Mitigation Tutorial - On-line Conditions Tools - In the Field Terrain and Conditions Observation

• Avalanche : Incorporating Avalanche Conditions, Hazard Recognition and Mitigation Tutorial - On-line Avalanche Conditions and Forecasting Products

• Terrain: Navigation & Trip Planning Tutorial - Topographical Map, Compass, GPS - Travel Plan - On-line Navigational and Peripheral Aids - In the Field complex navigation exercises

Recommended for gaining both high level independent mountain trip planning/travel expertise as well as a perfect fast track approach to understanding professional level guide meeting methodology. Participants will gain understanding of Western Canadian weather phenomenon. Introduction and use of advanced online weather products to form a more accurate forecast and better judge conditions. Become highly proficient using Topographical Maps, Compass, including additional on-line tools such as Google Earth, blogs/conditions reports, using peripherals such as Guidebooks and GPS.

Students will then practice the learned skill sets and methodology to create a next days safety travel plan that includes, objectives, weather, conditions, avalanche hazard, mountain hazards, terrain and full white-out navigation plan. As well as performing complex outdoor navigation exercises such as being on a bearing, circumnavigating a hazard and getting back on bearing.

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

top of page

Day One 8:00 - 17:00

• Morning Meeting: Formal introduction, coffee or tea, sign waivers, course outline
• Weather Tutorial: weather products ensemble
• Lesson 1: Cross referencing local forecast and Government Text Forecast
• Lesson 2: Satellite IR 500 Milli-bar Map
• Lesson 3: Satellite IR Surface Pressure Map
• Lesson 4: Satellite Animated Active Weather Fronts loop map
• Lesson 5: Jet Stream map
• Lesson 6: Freezing Level Map
• Lesson 7: Weather Radar
• Lesson 8: Local data-loggers
• Lesson 9: Mountain Weather phenomenon - orographic lift, convective cloud activity, humidity, pressure, elevation
• Lesson 10: Local climate and weather patterns, storm tracks, prevailing winds, Chinook’s, Pineapple express, etc.
• Lesson 11: Avalanche Hazard considerations (avalanche and weather forecast)
• Lesson 12: Mountain Hazards Tutorial
• Lesson 13: Recognizing and mitigating mountain hazards by sight, terrain photo’s and from an elevation, weather and climate perspective.
• Lesson 14: Glaciers and associated hazards: serac’s, crevasses, snow bridges, snow plugs, bergschrund’s, rock strewn dry glaciers, moats.
• Lesson 15: Objective Hazard Triggers: Rock, ice, serac, cornice and avalanche hazards triggered by wind, precipitation and temperature problems (including exposure, frostbite, cold snaps, daytime heating, heat-waves).
• Exercise: Weather and Hazard (mountain & avalanche hazard) self forecast for the next day

Day Two 8:00-16:00

• Morning Meeting: Coffee or tea, review local weather and avalanche forecast
• Map & Compass Tutorial
• Lesson 16: Understanding the topographical map
• Lesson 17: The Compass
• Lesson 18: Map & Compass use - the Grid Reference & plotting a course: basic trip plan.
• Lesson 19: Terrain to Map referencing and Resection (a.k.a. triangulation)
• Lesson 20: Estimating: D&T Distance & Time estimation/measurement. Travel Time estimation/measurement by foot, ski and climbing in various terrain, conditions and weather.
• Lesson 21: Recognizing mountain hazard from topographical map & route plan considerations
• Lesson 22: Map & Compass exercises
• Lesson 23: Topographic terrain cruxes - cliffs, gorges, steep slopes, scree slopes, avalanche slopes, moraines, alder slopes, undulating terrain with difficult elevation gain/loss, high elevation and river crossings.
• Lesson 24: Bringing it all together. Mountain Objective: Weather & Avalanche forecast + Mountain Hazards + Topo Map = Creating a Route Plan
• Lesson 25: Exercise: Complete a Route plan utilizing the MSA W.H.A.T. curriculum and D&T.
• Lesson 26: Exercise: Complete a Whiteout Navigation plan utilizing the MSA W.H.A.T. curriculum and D&T.
• Lesson 27: Whiteout Navigation Plan and Route Plan assignment

Day Three 8:00 - 16:00

• Morning Meeting: Coffee or tea, review local weather and avalanche forecast
• Lesson 28: The GPS
• Navigation: Drive to local area for navigation skills - resect position
• Lesson 30: Navigate assignment route plan using map and compass
• Lesson 31: Record a route on GPS
• Lesson 32: Following a compass bearing, following a GPS bearing
• Lesson 33: Going around obstacles
• Lesson 34: Warning bearings and aiming off
• Return to classoom
• Lesson 35: Problem solving, review, resolve and practice any misunderstood skills
• Next steps
• Course Closure

top of page

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

Not included in course but we do have several great options for you. Click the Accommodation button on this page.

Food

Students are responsible for their own food. Canmore has an excellent choice of supermarkets and restaurants to meet any budget. Our Canmore accommodation include a kitchen and/or breakfast depending on the accommodation option selected. Make sure you have a packed lunch with snacks everyday.

Transportation

Students are responsible for their own transportation. We encourage car-pooling and usually this works out very well. Transport for the week is available for an extra $20.00 per person per day on field trip days.

Equipment

Please let us know if there is any equipment you are missing or if you would like recommendations where to obtain it.

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

* Warm top and bottom under layers and socks.
* Mid layer fleece top
* Windbreaker, Hard shell or Soft shell jacket
* Warm hat
* Gloves
* Hiking boots
* Sunglasses and sunscreen.

Equipment

* Write in the rain book and mechanical pencil
* Laptop computer. If you do not have one we can lend you one but let us know.
* Compass-obligatory- Type: Baseplate compass with sighting mirror and graduation markings.
* Map- Canmore 82-O/3 1:50000 topographical map
* First Aid Kit with blister kit-optional
* GPS (optional)
* Hiking Pole

Food & Water

Be sure to have a packed lunch everyday for the field session as well as snacks and fluids. There are several fast food options close by. Coffee and Tea provided.

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.

�

Course Schedule & Pricing


Scheduled Course Date	Course Price	Register	Inquire
May 18 - 20, 2012	$380.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
September 21 - 23, 2012	$380.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
Please contact MSA directly for alternate dates for private groups of 4 or more people	$380.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
n/a	$380.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
n/a	$380.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
n/a	$380.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
n/a	$380.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
n/a	$380.00 + 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	$380.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
3 People	$500.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
2 People	$650.00 + 5% GST		Inquire
1 Person	$1300.00 + 5% GST		Inquire

Course Menu