Level 2 Alpine!

Build on skills from Level 1 Alpine. This course is the next progression for beginner mountaineers wanting to move into the novice and intermediate level.

The course begins with trad climbing techniques - learning to use nuts and cams, and build anchors. Following this, you hike into the alpine for 4 days.

In the alpine, you will learn techniques and practice movements over rock, snow, and ice. Learn steeper snow and ice techniques, crossing bergschrunds and moats, and more advanced rescue techniques.

Itinerary

Day 1 - 3

Meet daily at Cloudburst Cafe, Squamish 8am.

Introduction to placing nuts and cams, lead climbing strategy on easy climbs. Building alpine trad anchors, and multipitch systems.

Day 4 - 7 (Alpine)

Meet at Cloudburst cafe, Squamish 7am.

Hike into an alpine zone for 4 days 3 nights camping in tents. Practice rock techniques in an alpine environment with snow and ice. Learn 2-person glacier travel and rescue techniques with shorter ropes.

Possible mountain areas used for training include:

• Semaphore Lakes

• Brandywine Mountain

• Tricouni Mountain

• Skypilot

• Rainbow Mountain

Pre-requisites

• Backpacking in the backcountry.

• Glacier travel & crevasse rescue

• Rock climbing 5.6 cracks outdoors.

• Belaying & top-rope climbing.

Goals

Days 1-2 Learn Rock Cimbing

• Learning to place cams and nuts.

• Building anchors with cams and nuts: 2 and 3 point anchors equalized.

• Lead climb easy 4th-5th terrain in the bluffs to prepare for alpine rock.

• Rope management and multipitch systems

Days 4-7 Spent in the Alpine

• Glacier travel with 2 person teams for technical routes.

• Learn and practice snow and ice anchors: pickets, t-slots, ice screws, v-threads (depending on conditions).

• Advanced crevasse rescue: 2 person teams, 1-person holding the load,

• Advanced hauling systems, 3:1 and 6:1 rescue systems.

• Learn to safely cross moats and bergschrunds.

• Use running protection (pickets, ice screws) to protect a rope team on steeper terrain.

• Route finding and navigation in alpine terrain.

• Trip planning and reading maps, white out navigation, following GPS.

• Alpine hazards and risk mitigation, spring/summer avalanche risk.

• Low impact camping, leave no trace, cooking, washing, hanging food, bathroom.

Equipment

(CLICK above)

• Harness,

• Helmet (climbing)

• Belay device (Revearso style)

• Rock shoes

• Mountaineering boots

• Crampons (fitted to boots)

• General ice axe (70cm)

• 1 x 53cm Cable Snow Picket

• 1 x 21cm Ice Screw

• Abalakov Hooker or Petzl Multihook

• 1.5m x 7mm cord

• 1 x 13.5” Hollow Block

• 4 x locking carabiners (pear shape)

• 1 x Triple Action Locker w/ Captive Eye

• 4 x non-locking carabiners

• 1 x double length sling (120cm)

• 1 x cordalette (5m x 7mm cord)

• 1 x Nanotraxion

• 1 x Tibloc

• Gear rack (set of nuts #4-10, single set cams 0.2 - 3”)

• 4 x alpine quickdraws (60cm slings)

• Single Rope 9.0 - 9.4mm 60m

• Backcountry camping kit

Fee

$1799.00 +GST (1-Person)

Dates

August 27 - September 2

Ratio

1:6 (min 4)

guide : participants

Waiver

You are required to read the VMG Waiver and agree to it’s terms and conditions prior to paying or signing. Your guide needs to see the emailed waiver verification before participating.

Questions?