Are you leading, or thinking of leading, scrambling trips for the Alpine Club? Would you like to develop your leadership skills with instruction from an ACMG guide? Then read on!

This weekend course was originally created in response to a request from the Calgary Section and became an instant success. With the publication of several guidebooks to scrambles, the popularity of scrambling rapidly grew. This course is designed to improve leadership skills and build confidence for those leading ACC trips on scrambling terrain. Participants must have solid scrambling skills and be interested in leading groups on easy to moderate scrambles. Travel on simple snow terrain will be included if conditions allow. (Use of ropes will not be covered in this course.)

If weather permits you will do two scrambles (one per day), so good fitness and well broken in boots are a must. The first scramble is in the Nordegg area and the second is in the Columbia Icefields area. Saturday night the group camps at the Columbia Icefields area. All of the theory instruction is done while you are travelling. A HUGE focus of this course is on route finding and terrain use. On both scrambles you will attempt to do traverses and follow a different way down the mountain than the way you came up. This allows for more route finding challenges. Plus, much of the terrain you travel in is not covered in guidebooks, so participants need to develop and use good terrain skills rather than trying to follow a trail or a written description. Since this course hones terrain skills it is highly recommended for the budding alpinist or alpine leader as well.

Topics include:

• Group management
  
• Route selection
  
• Route finding
  
• Dealing with emergencies
  
• Communication devices
  
• Risk management
  
• Pacing
  
• Attributes of a good leader
  
• Gear for the leader’s pack
  
• Assessing weather on trips
  
• Choosing appropriate climbs for club trips

Prerequisites:

• Experience on several easy and moderate scrambles.

This course is arranged through Rescue Dynamics and is taught by Cyril Shokoples, an internationally certified mountain guide and Past President of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. Cyril has received the Distinguished Service Award from both the ACC and the ACMG. In 2013, Cyril was inducted as an honorary member of the ACC. He has taught the ACC's North Face National Leadership Courses for the past 15 years and has a long history of instruction with the Calgary Section.

The cost for the weekend course is over $170 but is being subsidized by the section and offered at a cost of $87.50 for Leaders and aspiring leaders who meet the subsidy requirements.

See the notes section below for more information and full payment details.

• Harness
• Helmet
• Appropriate boots (suitable for snow travel)
• gaiters
• Ice Axe
• Carabiners – 2 locking

• Add yourself to the waitlist
• Trip Coordinator sends an application package
• Complete application package and return to Trip Coordinator
• T&L Committee reviews applicants and selects attendees
• Trip Coordinator confirms acceptance via email
• Participant sends email transfer to treasurer@acccalgary.ca
• Participant sends second, separate email to Treasurer with e-transfer password
• Treasurer accepts & processes e-transfer. Confirmation email is sent to participant
• Participant forwards confirmation email to Trip Coordinator
• Trip Coordinator moves Participant from the waitlist to the trip.
• Participant attends the trip and has a grand 'ol time.

  All participants are required to complete a medical form and waiver before each course. Participants are responsible for their own climbing equipment, food, boots, clothing and accommodation. When participants do not have the requisite equipment, much of the technical gear can be provided for climbing courses if the instructor is contacted well in advance.