Winter Crevasse Rescue Courses
Crevasse rescue is an essential skill that needs constant upgrading in order to ensure that you deal with a crevasse emergency in the fastest and most efficient manner. We are offering two types of crevasse rescue clinics in 2009. The first is "Crevasse Rescue for Ski Mountaineers" and will be held at the beginning of March just as the traditional ski mountaineering season gets going. The second, "Advanced Crevasse Rescue" will be held in May and June and includes a refresher plus training in 2-man crevasse rescue. Please note that these are not beginner programs.
Crevasse Rescue for Ski Mountaineers Advanced Crevasse Rescue
Crevasse Rescue for Ski Mountaineers
Date Price Meeting Time & Place Location Agenda Prerequisites Instructors & Group Size Transportation Accommodation & Meals Gear Insurance How to Book
$295 Canadian includes instruction, climbing gym fees, and use of technical gear.
Not included: Canmore accommodation, meals, gratuities and 5% GST. Cancellation insurance available for $15.
Meeting Place & Time
The program begins at the Yamnuska office at 200, 50 Lincoln Park, Canmore, at 8:00 am on the first day. Map
Location
The course is based from our Canmore Office. We will be using indoor and outdoor locations in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country.
Agenda
Saturday: Program starts at Yamnuska office where we will review standard crevasse rescue procedures and then discuss the complications introduced when wearing skis. Program then transfers to an indoor facility where the rest of the day is spent setting up simulations and getting our procedures and techniques sorted out.
Sunday: We meet at the Yamnuska office then head to a suitable outdoor location (probably in Kananaskis) where we can practice crevasse rescue with skis in realistic (snowy and cold) outdoor situations.
Prerequisites
Participants need to be already familiar with basic crevasse rescue techniques (can already tie a prussic and other knots, familiar with general anchor building principles).
Instructors and Group Size
Your instructors will be ACMG certified guides. There will be a maximum of 6 participants per instructor.
Transportation
To keep prices down participants are responsible for their own transport to Canmore and during the program. Canmore is a 1hour (100km) drive west from Calgary.
If you are flying from afar for the program we suggest that you rent a car for your visit. In addition to getting you to the climbing locations it will allow you to explore our region after program hours. For example you can visit Banff and enjoy the hot pools and sample the numerous restaurants. If you want we can put other participants in touch with you who may be interested in sharing the cost of a rental car or who may be willing to use their vehicles in a car pool.
When booking please indicate if you are bringing a vehicle and, if so, whether your are willing or not to give other participants or instructors a ride in a car pool. If you are not driving here please indicate if you'd be willing to share the cost of a rental car or if you would prefer to car pool.
Frequent shuttles connect Calgary International Airport and Canmore. Greyhound Bus Lines (1 800 661 8747) serves Canmore from points east and west along the Trans-Canada Highway. Call 609 0300, 609 1490 or 609 8897 for taxis in Canmore.
Accommodation & Meals
These are your responsibility. There are lots of options available including campgrounds, hostels, B'n'Bs, motels and hotels. Check accommodation options on our links page for our recommendations. The Alpine Club Clubhouse (403 678 3200) is a good hostel here in Canmore with good facilities and reasonable prices.
Food is not supplied. You will need lunch and something to drink each day. Bring plenty to drink and a lunch plus energy snacks.
Equipment & Clothing
The course fee includes use of ropes and other technical gear although you should bring any crevasse rescue gear you already have.
You need to bring outdoor clothing suitable for standing around in freezing, windy conditions, your crevasse rescue gear plus your ski mountaineering gear.
Insurance
There is no charge for rescue. Though if we operate in Banff National Park (unlikely) you will need a day entry pass (c.$9) to qualify for free rescue. This pass can be obtained when we enter the Park. It is wise to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident while here.
Please book as early
as practical to avoid disappointment. We require full payment at the time
of
booking. To avoid unnecessary cancellation penalties we suggest
you take our cancellation insurance ($15), this must accompany
your payment.
Detailed booking instructions and conditions.
Please note that you will be
required to sign our waiver before commencing the course.
Please view our sample waiver
copy.
Advanced Crevasse Rescue for Mountaineers
Date Price Meeting Time & Place Location Agenda Prerequisites Instructors & Group Size Transportation Accommodation & Meals Gear Insurance How to Book
May 15 - 16, June 19 - 20, 2010
$325 Canadian includes instruction and use of technical gear.
Not included: Accommodation, meals, Gratuities & 5% GST*. Cancellation insurance available for $17.
Meeting Place & Time
Meet at the "ICEFIELDS CAMPGROUND" by the cooking shelters at 9.00am on Saturday morning. Please be dressed for the outdoors and have your gear handy so the instructors can check it with you. The campground is located 1 km south of the Icefields Centre on Hwy. 93. It is the closest one to the Centre.
Location
The course will be held at the Columbia Icefields. It is ideal as there are great practice locations right next to the 'Icefields Parkway', the scenic road linking Banff and Jasper.
Agenda
Saturday: Program starts at the Columbia Icefields. After checking we have the necessary gear we'll head off to a practice location, likely by Parkers Ridge. Today's emphasis will be on refreshing and practicing current rescue skills with introduction of newer techniques.
Sunday: Back to practice locations, on glacier if possible, where we will work on one man rescue systems (used for 2-man mountaineering teams). This a lot tougher than 3 man rescue but is also a more likely scenario for most advanced mountaineers. The objective of the day will be successful completion of one man rescues.
Prerequisites
Participants should have at some mountaineering experience and need to be already familiar with basic crevasse rescue techniques (can already tie a prussic and other knots, familiar with general anchor building principles). This is not a beginner program.
Instructors and Group Size
Your instructors will be ACMG certified guides. There will be a maximum of 6 participants per instructor.
Transportation
The Icefields are located approximately 180 km north of Banff on highway 93 ("Icefields Parkway"). During the summer months the Icefields are serviced by daily bus from Banff and Jasper (Brewster's, 403 762 3207). Each day we drive a short distance (up to 5 km) to the training location. Once at the Icefields it is usually possible to car pool with other participants. If flying in for the course it would be easiest to rent a car from Calgary International Airport. It takes about 4 hours to drive to the Icefields from the airport. We can also put participants wishing to car pool in touch with each other.
Accommodation & Meals
Accommodation and meals for the weekend are not included. There are several options available. The instructors and most climbers stay at the "Icefields Campground". Your choices include:
-
Camping: There are two campgrounds in the area. Most climbers use the "Columbia Icefields Campground", which is a first come, first serve system. In peak summer, it can be hard to find a place if you arrive late in the day. It will cost around $12/day/tent site (cash only, no credit cards accepted). The other campground nearby is "Wilcox Creek" for RVs.
-
The Icefields Chalet Hotel: If interested in more upscale living conditions then try this brand-new hotel. To book call 1 877 423-7433. If staying at the Hotel you will need to bring your own breakfast supplies for the ascent day on Monday as the Hotel restaurant will not be open that early (3.00am).
-
Hostels: There are a couple of rustic hostels operated by Hostelling International within a 45 minute drive of the Icefields. Beauty Creek Hostel is quite a bit closer than Rampart Creek Hostel. They will cost you around $25/night. You can make reservations by calling 1 866 762 4122.
If wanting to stay in Canmore or Banff before or after the course check our LINKS page for accommodation options.
You will need to plan your own menu and bring up enough food for the two days. Breakfasts should be simple and easy to prepare as you will be leaving fairly early each morning to meet with the group. You will also need to bring a lunch and snack food with you each day. Bring plenty of high-energy snacks. Particularly on cold days, we may not stop for long lunch breaks opting for more frequent short snack breaks instead. You will also need to bring plenty of liquids.
There is a restaurant and cafeteria at the Icefields Center (1 km North of campground). Simple meals and extra food can be purchased here if you prefer to eat out.
Equipment & Clothing
We will supply group crevasse rescue gear though you should bring your own
too. If you don't want to bring your own technical gear we do have boots, crampons, ice axe, harness and
helmets available for rent. When booking please let us know if you will
need to rent any of
these.
CLOTHING LIST
We suggest layers of light, easily carried clothing that allow for fast and easy adjustment to best suit fast changing temperature conditions. We discourage cotton clothing as it causes rapid heat loss when wet. Feel free to call us if you have any questions about what to bring. This list covers items needed for all likely conditions during the mountaineering season.
You will need to bring:
-
LONG UNDERWEAR, top and bottom, polypro, wool, capilene or fleece
-
WOOL/BLEND SOCKS (extra pairs)
-
Warm LONG PANTS to climb in. These should be wool/nylon blend knickers, fleece pants, nylon exercise pants with light long johns or wool trousers.
-
Light SHIRT or T-SHIRT
-
Wool or fleece LONG SLEEVE SHIRT with collar
-
FLEECE SWEATER (medium weight)
-
Heavyweight fleece or insulated JACKET
-
Waterproof OUTER JACKET with hood (Gore-Tex)
-
Waterproof OUTER PANTS, preferably with side zips on legs
-
Waterproof knee-length GAITERS that will fit over large boots
-
Waterproof mountaineering GLOVES or wool / fleece mitts /gloves plus waterproof overmitts
-
WARM HAT (that covers ears)
-
SUNHAT with wide brim
-
NECK TUBE
EQUIPMENT LIST
You will need to bring: (Items in blue are available to rent from Yamnuska) Rental Gear
-
MOUNTAINEERING BOOTS: You will need proper mountaineering boots designed specifically for this use. Most hiking boots are not suitable not being firm enough, waterproof and not made to take crampons. Mountaineering boots are made from leather or plastic. Leather boots have either a semi-rigid or a rigid sole. Plastic boots have rigid soles. The most important feature of a mountaineering boot is comfort. Different brands seem to suit different feet. If buying, try a few different pairs and if they are not comfortable don't buy them. There are many good brands including: Asolo, Kayland, Koflach, la Sportiva and Scarpa.
-
DAYPACK. Large enough to carry spare clothing, lunch, water and climbing gear.
-
SUNGLASSES with good UV protection, we suggest 'glacier glasses'
-
Extra Strength SUN CREAM
-
LIP CREAM
-
HEADLAMP with fresh batteries
-
WATERBOTTLE (1L minimum)
-
POCKET KNIFE
-
BLISTER KIT ('moleskin', 'Second Skin')
-
FIRST-AID Items (band-aids, ibuprofen & Aspirin/Tylenol is enough as guides have a kit also)
-
CAMERA and spare film
-
TREKKING POLE (S) (optional)
-
ICE AXE. We suggest a general mountaineering axe optimum 70cm length
-
CRAMPONS
-
HARNESS
-
CLIMBING HELMET
-
PRUSSICK SLINGS
-
LOCKING & NON-LOCKING CARABINERS
Insurance
There is no charge for rescue so long as you have a valid National Park Entry Pass (obtain on entry to National Park.) However, it is wise to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident during your visit to the Rockies.
Booking Information
Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. We require full
payment at the time of booking. To avoid
unnecessary cancellation penalties we suggest you take our cancellation
insurance for an extra non-refundable $15, this must accompany your
payment. Please read the attached information on booking conditions
and cancellation penalties carefully before booking.
Detailed booking instructions and conditions.
Please note that you will be required to sign our waiver before
commencing the trip. Please view our sample waiver
copy.
Book Advanced Crevasse Rescue
