Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue Course
Skills to Avoid Crevasses and What to Do if You Don't
Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue is the essential course for any skier or rider looking to venture into glaciated terrain. Whether you are crossing glaciers or boot packing over bergschrunds, you will spend lots of time on glaciers if you ski in big mountains. Learn how to safely travel across glaciers and learn what to do if you or your partner take the plunge! Glacier dynamics, glacier assessment, risk factors, glacier travel and companion rescue (crevasse extraction) are the focus of this 2-day course.
Course Dates: December 1/2, December 5/6, December 29/30, January 16/17, February 6/7, February 27/28.
Courses available in Squamish & Vancouver, BC, upon request.
Online course offered here.
The Goods
Length: 2 Days
Locations: Day 1 in Squamish, Day 2 in Whistler
Meeting point: The Common
Prerequisites: Previous ski touring experience, AST 1 (or equivalent) and good fitness.
Highlight Skills: Assessing glaciers, roping up on glaciers and crevasse rescue roped & unroped.
Season: Scheduled Dates All Winter
Max. Guest to Guide Ratio: 6:1
Price: $339
What You Will Learn
Our Crevasse Rescue and Glacier Travel course covers the gear necessary for glacier travel and rescue and a wide range of glacier travel techniques, glaciology and how to perform crevasse rescue in various scenarios.
Day 1 – Crevasse Rescue and Rope Skills (Squamish)
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Understanding the required gear
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Snow anchors
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Haul: drop loop, 3:1, 6:
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Rappel and rope climbing
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Lowering/belay into to steep line or cornice
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Setting up rappel in snow
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Roping up for glacier travel
Day 2 – Glacier Travel (Whistler)
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Understanding glacier, an alpine environment, crevasse formation, bergschrund formation
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Identify mountain hazard
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Snow assessments in big and or steep terrain
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Assessing glaciers
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Navigation
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Route planning
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Managing cornices
I just completed the Crevasse Rescue Course with Holly. She was an excellent instructor - very patient, knowledgable, and excellent at explaining systems and why they work. There was a mixed skill and experience level in our group and it was great to be able to tailor each persons goals and training appropriate to their experience and what will suit them best to travel safely in the mountains.
- Ben
I want to say a big thank you to the Altus team for enabling my future multi-pitch adventures, I feel really good about how today's course has prepared me for the big leagues 🙂
- Mark T
Is This for You
If you have logged some time backcountry skiing or climbing and are ready to push up into glaciated alpine terrain.
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Moderate Ski Touring Experience
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Excellent Ski or Board Ability (Black Diamonds)
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Good Fitness (500 - 1000m/Day)
Scheduled Courses 2020/ 2021
December 1, 2 $339 / person
Midweek Course
December 5, 6 $339 / person
All listed prices are in CAD and subject to 5% sales tax.
December 29, 30 $339 / person
Midweek Course
January 5, 6 $339 / person
Midweek Course
January 16, 17 $339 / person
February 6, 7 $339 / person
February 27, 28 $339 / person
Add-On
Itinerary
Day 1
9 am-11 am: Meet at the Common. Review knots, theory, and rope work.
11 am-4 pm: Head to Smoke Bluffs to simulate crevasse rescue scenarios and practice rope skills on rock
Students should be prepared to spend the entire day outside in the elements. Warm layers, sturdy footwear, gloves, and hard shells are recommended. Ski gear will not be required this day, but mountaineering gear (harness and crevasse rescue kits) will be used.
Day 2
8 am-9 am: Meet at Handlebar, review conditions and discuss the trip plan.
9 am-4 pm: Upload gondola and tour to Whistler/Blackcomb backcountry, where we cover glacier travel topics and practice a crevasse rescue on snow.
All ski touring, avalanche safety gear and mountaineering gear (harness, crevasse rescue kit, and axe) will be required.
- Avalanche Rescue Equipment
- Whistler Blackcomb Backcountry Lift Ticket
- Lunch
- Transportation
- 2 Full Days of Instruction with ACMG Guide
- All Technical Equipment (harness, crevasse rescue and group gear)
Avalanche Gear
- Avalanche beacon
- Probe
- Shovel
Hardware
- Backcountry skis or split-board (skis, skins, poles)
- General mountaineering axe (steel) I will have a couple on hand as well
- Harness
- 30-litre backpack or large enough to carry personal and some group gear
- Rope - We will provide but feel free to bring whatever rope you would be using personally, so you can practice with it.
Crevasse rescue kit
- 1 x 1.5m 7mm cord
- 2 x 5m 7mm cord
- 2 x double length sling
- 4 locking carabiners
- 2 non-locking carabiner
- Belay device
- Pulley (optional)
- Ice screw (16cm min)
- Ski strap
We have lots of extra gear, so don’t feel you need to bring all the crevasse gear.
Clothing
- Waterproof/breathable jacket and pants
- Lightweight, breathable jacket and pants (for uphill skinning/climbing)
- Insulated jacket (synthetic insulated jacket is strongly recommended)
- Lightweight gloves for climbing/skinning
- Warm gloves
- Warm hats
- Balaclava or other types of neck warmer
Miscellaneous
- Sunglasses
- Goggles
- Sunscreen
- Sun hat
- Ski strap
- Small personal ski repair kit
- Personal first aid, medication
- Camera
Lunch/Water
Please arrive in the morning with food and drink for the day.
Please take a moment to read and understand our policies before booking! Booking, payment, cancellation and weather policies, as well as FAQ, may be found here.
Still Have Questions or Concerns?
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, concerns or requests on how we can make this the best trip ever!!!
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Altus mountain guides is a group of motivated professionals dedicated to providing our clients with outstanding quality in the mountains with safe adventurous trips. From our base in Squamish and Whistler BC we provide you access to the most amazing mountain experiences the West Coast has to offer. Our exciting itineraries showcase the Coast Range but reach beyond to the interior ranges of the Selkirkʼs and Purcellʼs and onto the Rockies. We also offer trips internationally from the historic and classic European Alps to the windswept wilds of Patagonia.