Snow and Ice Weekend Course

Learn basic mountaineering skills such as ice climbing, crampon technique, snow anchors and crevasse rescue. This mountaineering course combines 2 days of instruction with a guided ascent of Mount Kemmel 3120m (10237ft). It will provide the beginner with mountaineering skills to continue on to bigger mountains such as Mount Lyell or Mount Forbes.

Dates: June- September

Price:$875/person plus GST

Meeting Place: Icefall Lodge

Included:

Not Included:

Requirements: Reasonable physical fitness and a desire to learn. This a beginner level course for those with no previous experience.  The last day of the course involves an ascent of Mount Kemmel, with 1200m (4000ft) of elevation gain. Participants should be able to hike this much in 5 hours or less.

Skills Covered:

Day 1:  Meet in the evening at Icefall Lodge, for directions see Hiking Trail to Icefall Lodge. Guiding is not included for the hike up, but can be arranged separately.  Introduction an go over equipment for the following days.

Day 2: Snow school; go over techniques for climbing snow. These include setting steps, ice axe use on snow, self arrest, snow anchors, roping up for glacier travel, and an introduction to crevasse rescue.  These are practiced a short distance from the lodge. Evening in the lodge will be spent discussing route planning, whiteout navigation, and map reading.

Day 3: Ice school; ice techniques covered include crampon use, French technique, front pointing, ice anchors, ice axe use, and more crevasse rescue practice.  Evening is spent discussing and planning the next day's ascent of Mount Kemmel.

Day 4: Ascent of Mount Kemmel. This will be the biggest day with 1200m (4000ft) of elevation gain. Your mountain guide will demonstrate how to put all the skills learned in the previous day to use on the climb of a big mountain.  The summit provides a 360 degree panorama of the surrounding mountains. Mount Lyell, Mount Forbes, Mount Columbia, Mount Sir Sanford, and Rostrum Peak are some of the summits that you will see.  Descend to the lodge and hike out.