Courses Programs
More Mountaineering
Featured Trips
Berner Oberland
April 27-May 4, 2012
Bernise Alps, Switzerland
Mount Logan
May 13th-June 4th 2012
St-Elias - Yukon
Receive Mountain News & Events
Sign up here for seasonal newsletters and information on upcoming guided trips & courses.
Courses
Challenge yourself! Learn, fine-tune or bring your skills to the next level…
The rewards of the outdoors and mountain activities are positive, enlightening and incredibly empowering. The discoveries and learning’s encountered while in this environment can beneficially be carried into many other parts of ones life.
Join us and experience the exciting benefits of learning and building your mountain skills in activities like backcountry ski touring, rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering or hiking. Whether you are interested in learning a specific skill or want to improve to the next level, Summit Mountain Guides has a program for you.
Professional Guiding & Instruction
Summit Mountain Guides offers a professional guiding and instructional service with fully certified Rock, Ski, Alpine and Mountain guides (ACMG/IFMGA). At Summit Mountain Guides, our certified guides provide you with the highest industry expertise, instructions and safety standards.
Our experienced guides take pleasure in helping you achieve your mountain adventure and goals. We specialize in designing trips with small guest to guide ratio’s and work to suits your needs and experience level. Leave all the logistics to the experts and maximize your time in the mountains!
Mountain Education
Summit Mountain Guides offers various instructional programs throughout the year in Nelson BC, Western Canada and in the European Alps. We offer single or multi-day instructional courses in the Selkirk’s and the Purcell mountains as well as the Coast Mountains, the Canadian Rockies and the European Alps.
Whether you are interested in taking a Crevasse Rescue course, a multi-day introduction to mountaineering or experience a Team building program, we have a program that suits your needs. Browse and choose from our instructional programs below or contact us to design a course for you with a custom program.
We look forward to expanding your knowledge, skills, confidence and backcountry exposure…
Instructional Programs
Avalanche Skills Level 1 (AST 1)
Are you beginning to experience and enjoy backcountry touring? Take the AST level 1 course and learn the basic principles of safe winter travel in avalanche terrain.
Learn how to recognize & manage avalanche terrain, read & analyze snow pack information, choose appropriate up tracks, avoid avalanches and enjoy safer turns.
This introductory course includes 6 hrs of classroom with 10 hrs in the field over 2 full days. For reduced rate and time, combine AST 1 & 2.
Avalanche Skills Level 2 (AST 2)
Are you looking for the highest recreational avalanche training? Are you interested in boosting your skills before seeking further Industry Training Programs? The AST level 2 will deepen your knowledge, broaden your experience and skills for better decision making in avalanche terrain.
This 3 & 1/2 day program is the next logical step after completing the AST 1. Similar topics will be covered with more depth and emphasis on adapting personal exposure based on changing conditions & field observations.
This course provide the highest level of recreational avalanche training. It is also a stepping stone for further CAA industry training programs.
Companion Rescue Skills
Interested in practicing and refining your rescue skills? Take this one day companion rescue skills course to install new confidence in your abilities and learn the most updated rescue information from a professional guide.
This course is designed for participants who have taken AST 1. This course is primarily a field program, expect at least 7 hours outdoors.
Introduction to Backpacking
Overnight backpacking guided hikes allow you to enjoy and begin to understand the beauty and unique vistas in the back country.
Develop the wilderness skills need to effectively plan your route, navigate and set up campsites safely and with ecological integrity. Explore into scenic wilderness areas such as Valhalla, Kokanee Glacier or Goat Provincial Park.
Navigation in the Mountains
For recreational hikers or leaders interested in travel skills, we offer navigation course that builds your skills in reading the terrain “before” you get lost.
Learn seasoned guiding tricks for planning your route, reducing hazards and predicting terrain.
Natural History & Ecology
For budding naturalists or guides interested in upgrading skills, we offer custom programs in nature interpretation for hikers interesting in understanding the ecology.
You will learn the unique stories behind the biology and ecology linking plant to animal and elevation to critter. This two day course is experiential based, course content will vary based on season and hike location.
Introduction to Mountaineering
This 5 day course is a comprhensive introduction to general mountaineering on rock, snow, glaciers and mixed terrain. It combines the skills thought in the Intro to Rock Climbing course with the ones learned on the Snow and Ice course. Rock skills include belaying skills, movement skills on rock, anchor construction, rappelling, rope handling. Snow & Ice skills include; ice axe and crampon use, self-arrests, snow and glacier travel skills, navigation, hazard assessment and crevasse rescue fundamentals as well as a possible peak ascents.
Complete Mountaineering
This 5 day course is for people interested in fine tuning their existing mountaineering skills or bringing them to the next level. On this course we will be covering more thoroughly the skills introduced on the intro to mountaineering course and many new skills. Some of the topics covered include advanced snow and glacier travel, ice climbing, alpine rock climbing, advanced crevasse rescue, advanced navigation, route planning, mountain weather, hazard management and leadership. The curriculum is flexible and may vary depending on participant interest. To fully grasp this course, students must have previous rock climbing and mountaineering experience.
Snow & Ice Course
This 3 day course is a condensed introduction to mountaineering with a focus on snow, ice and glacier travel skills. It is specially designed for motivated students and people who have been exposed to mountaineering, rock climbing or taken an introduction to rock climbing course before. Snow & Ice skills covered on this course include; ice axe and crampon use, self-arrests, snow and glacier travel skills, navigation, hazard assessment and crevasse rescue fundamentals as well as a possible peak ascents.
Skills Refresher
This 1 or 2 day course is to refresh and learn specific mountaineering skills. The curriculum is highly driven by participants interests and needs. Topics include; crevasse rescue skills, review of ice axe skills and self-arrests, snow & ice anchors, navigation, route planning, mountain weather, hazard assessment, glacier travel and rope work. Join a certified mountain guide or alpine guide and enjoy direct feedback and the opportunity to practice your skills for the upcoming season.
Intro to Ice Climbing
Join highly qualified instructors and guides on this exciting 2 to 3 day introductory ice climbing program.
The focus of the intro course is to give you the basic skills and confidence with modern ice climbing technique on vertical ice and mixed terrain. Enjoy learning in small student groups. We will also introduce and review basic movement skills and safety, belaying and rope management while climbing lots of ice.
Take your adventure to the next level and invest a 3rd day climbing a classic multi-pitch ice route in the Canadian Rockies. This will give you the opportunity to apply your newly learned skills and climb with a professional ice guide.
Intro to Backcountry Ski Touring
Get started the safe way! This one or two day introductory course focuses on safe backcountry touring practices. Participants will learn a great deal about trip preparation, gear use, touring skills, powder skiing skills along with basic avalanche awareness skills required for a safe and enjoyable ski tour.
Enjoy the benefits of learning from a professional guide while skiing fresh powder!
For specific avalanche courses, take one of our Avalanche Skills Training courses (AST 1 & 2)
Introduction to Rock Climbing
Expose yourself to this rewarding activity! This entry level 1 day course is for families, groups and individuals wishing to safely learn the basics of outdoor rock climbing.
Topics covered include basic movement skills, equipment use, top rope climbing techniques and general crag safety. Depending on interests and timing, you will also get the oportunity to learn about personalized movement skills and rappelling while climbing as much rock as possible.
Rock Climbing Essentials
Bring some awareness to your growing skills, the focus of this 2-day course is to convey the basic standards for outdoor top roping climbing practices and to introduce lead and multi-pitch climbing safety.
Join this course and be “in the know” on how to get started and established at your local crag. Some of the skills covered include; general crag safety, anchor construction, rappelling, basic rope handling, movement skills, lead belaying and much more.
Advanced Rock Climbing
This course is designed for intermediate to advanced climbers seeking a broader rock climbing skill set.
This 1 or 2 day program provides a safe learning environment to continue refining your skills and bring them to the next level. Day one focuses on lead belay skills and day two focuses on multi-pitch climbing. Topics include improvise anchors and belay systems, advance movement skills, lead and multi-pitch climbing, traditional climbing and much more.
Rock Rescue
This 1 day course is an introduction to improvised rock climbing rescue.
Topics include rope ascending, escaping the belay, load transfers, raising and lowering systems along with troubleshooting various scenarios. It is best suited for Intermediate to advance climbers.
