During the course, snowshoe training is combined with pulling gear sleds. The afternoon is devoted to snow camping techniques, including safe camp locations, snow shelters, cooking and cold-weather health maintenance. Snow climbing instruction. We spend the morning packing and moving camp. This allows easy access to practice areas, while honing both packing and camp set-up skills.
Students learn the fundamentals of moving safely and efficiently on snow slopes of all degrees.
Technical climbing on snow. After moving camp, anchor placements and technical rope climbing instruction for ascending steep snow slopes is given and practiced. Special emphasis is placed on setting and ascending fixed lines. Proper rope-up techniques using sleds are taught. Considerable time is spent route finding through crevassed areas and identifying our position on maps.