The Alpine Skills Weekend provides participants with three days of foundational competence in glacier travel, snow movement, snow anchors, and crevasse rescue. Through a mix of demonstrations, guided practice, and scenario-based learning, participants will develop the awareness, rope-management skills, and rescue techniques required for safe travel on glaciated terrain.
Objectives:
Objective 1: Crevasse Rescue Skills
Rescue order:
Self arrest
Backup body and transfer load partially
Backup anchor and transfer fully
5m prussic on B strand tied through harness loops
Probe to edge and build a mound 1x1m (HxW)
Probe edge thoroughly and drop slack while moving prusik to C strand
Step up 3m and add a new masterpoint
Move prusik to E strand and insert Z-drag
Raise slowly with communication
Shorten A strand with overhand knots as a backup for the haul side
Tractor Pull Applications
Objective 2: Glacier Travel Techniques
Rope spacing for glacier travel
14m 2pp, 12m 3pp, 10m 4pp, 8m 5pp
When to use knots (overhand & 1/2 )
Tying into the rope (always on a bight)
Unroped travel considerations
Glacier morphology
Rescue rope & positioning within a team
Objective 3: Snow Anchors
Picket placement and strength
T-slot placements
Joining snow anchors via adjustable clove hitch
Objective 4: Snow Movement Skills
Self arresting
Footwork
Day One Lesson Plan:
Athabasca glacier travel
Rope spacing, knots, glacier morphology
Snow anchor instruction
Ice anchor review: if possible
Day Two Lesson Plan:
Parkers Ridge wind lip
Snow movement and self arrest practice
Snow anchor instruction
Crevasse rescue instruction
Crevasse rescue walkthrough
Global demo
Scenario practice
Day Three Lesson Plan:
Participant led circuit on Athabasca N. Glacier
Preparing the rope for glacier travel
Moving as a rope team
Dividing rescue rope
Moving En Echelon
Glacier morphology and crevasse direction
Price includes 3 full guided days and 2 nights accommodation at Rampart Creek Hostel.
Cancellation Policy If a participant is unable to attend a paid course or trip, there will be no refund unless the participant finds a suitable replacement that is acceptable to the trip coordinator. Acceptable waiting list candidates will have priority. It will then be the participant's responsibility to recover funds from the replacement. If the coordinator cancels an event, participants get a refund (less any non-recoverable costs). Note that ACC National does not refund hut fees due to weather, delay, closures, or any other reasons. The Calgary Section of the ACC is a not for profit club and we only charge attendees what it costs us to provide courses or trips.
Trip Feedback If you have any feedback, positive or negative, concerning this trip or any other, we want to hear from you! You can send any feedback you may have to the Section Chair.
Waiver and Membership Requirement
Participation in this activity is subject to you having a current membership and a current signed
ACC Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims, Assumption of Risks Agreement (the “Waiver”), which is signed in conjunction with purchasing/renewing your membership.
A separate Waiver is not required. Your membership Waiver in place at the time of the activity will apply to your participation in this activity. You can review your completed waiver by logging onto your profile at alpineclubofcanada.ca. If your
membership renews prior to the activity taking place, you will be required to agree to a new Waiver upon renewal, this new Waiver will apply to your participation in this activity. By proceeding with the booking, you agree to the foregoing waiver terms. Bookings
without a current Waiver at the time of the activity will be cancelled.
The Waiver is a legal document by which you waive or give up the right to sue or claim compensation following an accident. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY! You can review your completed waiver by logging onto your profile at alpineclubofcanada.ca.
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