Summer Crevasse Rescue & Glacier Travel
Summary
Summer
- Cost:
- $399
This comprehensive glacier and rescue course is a gold standard of the industry for mountaineers and alpine climbers. You will learn critical glacier travel safety skills and the essential skills for rescuing roped and un-roped victims from a crevasse.
Make a Booking
The following dates are available for this course.
We will post up more public dates if there is demand, so please let us know what dates work better for you.
Book NowCourse Information
This comprehensive glacier and rescue course is a gold standard of the industry for mountaineers and alpine climbers.
Participants will learn critical glacier travel safety skills, geomorphology, and the essential skills for rescuing both roped and un-roped victims from a crevasse including arresting a roped fall and building an anchor while holding a victim, transferring the load, descending, and hauling.
You will learn a lot in the two days and have a lot of fun – a great course!
Crevasse rescue scenarios will include variations of individual and 2 team rescue, victim self rescue and group rescue. The course is primarily field based and will challenge you to problem solve complex situations like rescuing an injured or unconscious climber, insufficient rope, middle person is crevasse victim, and more!
Practice the following key knots to prepare for the course: Figure 8 on a Bight; Clove-Hitch; Munter-Hitch; Girth-Hitch; Auto-Block; and Munter-Mule.
Day 1 & 2
- Introduction to Rock Rescue Kit and equipment check
- Equalized anchor, knots and rappelling
- Ascending the rope – prussik, ratchet, reverse
- Situational awareness, review hazards
- Dividing the rope – tying into the rope/triple action carabiner, stowing extra rope
- The prussik – tying in, daisy chaining and deploying
- Backing up anchor and extend personal anchor
- Incorporating a ratchet – different types of ratchets
- First raise method, z-pulley raising system, adding advantage
- Reversing the raise & lowering
- Rock Rescue Scenario
- Problem solving specific scenarios
We are happy to help source any rental gear you require for your course
Clothing
- Down or synthetic “puffy” insulated jacket
- Insulating top and bottom under layers and socks
- Mid layer fleece top
- Weatherproof shell jacket and pants
- Gaiters
- Warm hat and balaclava
- 2 pairs of gloves, mittens (optional)
- Sunglasses and sunscreen.
Equipment
- Backpack-25-35 Litres
- Rite in the Rain notebook and mechanical pencil
- First Aid Kit with blister kit
- Map, compass, GPS (all optional)
- Crevasse Rescue Kit
- Harness
- 1 Auto-block device (Petzl Reverso or Black Diamond ATC Guide)
- 4 locking carabiners
- 4 non-locking carabiners
- 1 x 120cm sling
- 2 x 5m 7mm prussik
- 1 x 1.5m 7mm prussik
We have Crevasse Rescue Kits available to rent if needed, but we recommend using your own so you can get comfortable with your gear under the guide’s instruction.
*Lunch, snacks, and water
*Thermos (optional)
In this one day course you will learn what gear you need on your harness and how to use every piece of equipment in multiple ways
- Lesson 1 Equipment: Harness, helmet, and other necessary rescue gear
- Lesson 2 Environment : Leave no trace and wildlife discussion.
- Lesson 3 Onsite safety: Current hazards and safety protocols.
- Lesson 4 The Implications of Rescue: Discussion
- Lesson 5 Equipment: Being prepared for a rescue
- Lesson 6 Rope Rescue Components: Knots and Hitches
- Lesson 7 Rock Rescue Demonstration: Steps in Rope Rescue
- Lesson 8 Blocking the Belay: To free the hands
- Lesson 9 Transferring the Load: From belayer to anchor
- Lesson 10 Assessing the Situation: Attend the victim?
- Lesson 11 Raising: Setting up a basic Z pulley haul system
- Lesson 12 Lowering: Setting up to lower and injured climber
- Lesson 13 Counterbalance Rappel: How to descend and retrieve an injured climber
- Lesson 14 Tandem Rappeling: How to rappel with an injured climber
- Lesson 15 Reversing the Belay: How to reverse a self locking plate ie Reverso®
- Lesson 16 Rope Ascending and Descending: Use of different systems
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We're flexible!
Important Information
We strongly recommend you purchase insurance for Trip Cancellation, Emergency Evacuation and Adventure Sports Coverage (some backcountry adventures are excluded from coverage).
Emergency Evacuation and Medical Insurance
This coverage provides you with emergency air rescue if required and full medical. Parks Canada provides free evacuation within the Parks and if you are a Canadian resident your medical will be covered by your provincial health plan (except ambulance/air ambulance transport). We strongly recommend international visitors purchase this insurance.
Emergency evacuation insurance is compulsory for all our hut trips, as these typically take place outside of Parks Canada’s jurisdiction.
Trip Cancellation Insurance
To prepare for unforeseen circumstances we strongly recommend purchasing Trip Cancellation Insurance at the time of booking your trip. Trip Cancellation insurance covers many scenarios to reimburse you for cancelled trips outside of your control.
Our recommended insurance provider is Tugo.Com who can be reached via the following:
All prices are quoted in Canadian dollars and are exclusive of a 5% tax (GST). Prices are subject to change. Guide gratuities are not included in fees.
Full payment is required at time of registration. Our preferred method of payment is by Mastercard or VISA through our online payment portal. We also accept credit card payment over the phone, bank transfer and cash.
Mountain Skills Academy takes mountain safety very seriously, however there is no way to completely mitigate risk in alpine environments. Prior to undertaking any of our courses or trips we require you to sign a waiver.
Mountain conditions are extremely unpredictable and can change at short notice. Our guides endeavor to undertake the routes and/or peaks that our clients desire, however our decisions will be impacted by conditions. Unfortunately we are not able to offer refunds if conditions are not suitable to undertake a particular route on the day you have booked. We will however make every effort to take you out for the best day possible given the conditions.
Applicable to all tours and courses*: If conditions force us to cancel a course or trip we will do all we can to accommodate you at another date. If this isn’t possible we will offer a full refund. We reserve the right to decline rescheduling dates based on availability. *Does not apply to First Aid and Wilderness First Aid courses.
Late Arrival Policy
Guests arriving more than 15 minutes late for an activity forfeit 100% of the tour price. Tours leave promptly; it is recommended to arrive 15 minutes early to sort out gear and sign waivers.
Adventures Cancellation Policy
Half Day and Full Day Programs
- Within 48 hours of start time: Cancellation will result in a 100% forfeit of tour price, no rescheduling.
- More than 48 hours: $25 rescheduling & refunding fee (per booking).
- 2 Day Programs: Within 10 days cancellation notice will result in a 100% forfeit of tuition, Outside of 10 days: $25 penalty to reschedule per booking or full refund.
- 3+ Day Programs: 30 days cancellation notice will result in a 100% forfeit of tuition, Outside of 30 days: $75 penalty to reschedule or full refund.
- Customized Trips: 30 days cancellation notice will result in a 100% forfeit of tuition, Outside of 30 days: $75penalty to reschedule per booking or full refund.
**On all multi day trips pre arranged add-ons are non-refundable (food, accommodation, etc).
1-2 Day Courses
- Within 10 days: Cancellation notice will result in a 100% forfeit of tuition
- Outside of 10 days: $75 penalty to reschedule per booking or full refund.
3+ Day Courses
- Within 30 days: Cancellation notice will result in a 100% forfeit of tuition
- Outside of 30 days: $75 penalty to reschedule per booking or full refund.
**If you are able to find someone else to take your place on a course, please let us know as we are more than happy to transfer bookings.
Minors (under the age of 18 for our courses based in Alberta and 19 for those based in BC) and custodial groups (youths affiliated with an institution where the parents/legal guardian are not present on the trip) may register for certain trips and courses with a letter of consent from parents or legal guardian as well as must sign a waiver and have their parents or legal guardian sign a waiver. Further, we abide by the Parks Canada Custodial Group winter backcountry policy as outlined here.
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