Choose the specific mountaineering skills you want to focus on…
Our Day Skills Series is for people interested in acquiring or refreshing very specific mountaineering skills. It is a 1, 2 or 3 day series where participants can choose from various skills.
Whether you are interested in a specific skill or want to tackle the 3 day series, you will learn modern mountaineering skills from qualified instructors in a safe environment.
Our Day Skills Series focuses on specific skills over 3 separate days;
- Day skills 1: Ice Axe & Crampon use, Movement skills & Rope handling
- Day skills 2: Crevasse Rescue and Snow & Ice Anchors
- Day skills 3: Mountain Leadership & Hazard Management
See itinerary below for more details
We also offer various clinics on topics like: High altitude mountaineering, Rock Rescue, Expedition planning, Light & fast tactics, etc. Contact us for more information
Day Skills 1: Ice Axe & Crampon use, Movement skills & Rope handling
- 8:00 AM meeting at local practice site
- Welcome, introduction, goals & agenda
- Issue of required gear
- Movement skills on mixed, snow & ice terrain
- Ice axe and crampon use
- Self arrest practice
- rope handling for snow & glacier travel
- Course debrief and wrap-up by 4:30pm
Day Skills 2: Crevasse Rescue and Snow & Ice Anchors
- 8:00 AM meeting at local practice site
- Review of relevant skills & glacier morphology
- Glacier travel & roping up
- Introduction to snow & ice anchors
- Snow & ice anchor construction practice
- Crevasse rescue fundamentals theory & practice
- Rope ascending practice
- Additional skills if time permits
- Course debrief and wrap-up by 4:30pm
Day Skills 3: Mountain Leadership & Hazard Management
- 8:00 AM meeting at local indoor meeting room
- Welcome, introduction, goals & agenda
- Review or relevant skills
- Mountain leadership skills session
- Group management skills session
- Hazard management discussion
- Emergency procedures session
- 13:00 PM meeting at outdoor practice site
- Map, compass & navigation session
- Route selection session
- Additional skills if time permits
- Course debrief and wrap-up by 4:30pm
The complete itinerary is somewhat flexible and will vary depending on participant interests, needs, weather, conditions and course location. Expect a full day in the mountain with an early start. For maximum value, it is possible to custom design and extend this program over a few days.
Interested in more learning? We also offer various clinics on topics like: High altitude mountaineering, Rock Rescue, Expedition planning, Light & fast tactics, etc.
Contact us for more information
On this course, students will benefit from previous mountaineering and rock climbing experience. Previous experience note necessary. Good physical fitness is a must, comfort and experience with walking off trail and carrying a large day packs is very useful.
A desire to learn along with a positive attitude will get you a long ways!
This course is available in the Nelson area, the Canadian Rockies, the Coast mountains and the European Alps.
Some of the areas we often visit on the Nelson courses include; Kokanee Glacier ProvincialPark, Valhalla Provincial Parks & Goat range Provincial Park in the Selkirk mountains, The MacBeth Icefields, the Horseshoe Glacier and Starbird Pass near Glacier creek in the Purcell mountains.
Due to the higher elevations, proximity to dominant winds and weather conditions, mountain weather is difficult to predict. It is most often worse than the weather in the surrounding valleys and can change quickly as it is really hard to predict for more than 24hrs ahead.
In summer you expect temperatures to be from 10 C to 28C in the day while overnight temperature can drop dramatically in the high alpine, even below zero. Temperatures are much colder at higher elevations, even in the summer. It is not uncommon to have overnight freezing temperatures in the alpine, outside a mountain hut or near a back country camp.
It is always an interesting challenge to know exactly what you are going to get, therefore is important to be flexible with timing and not too attached to a particular goal or objective. Be prepared by bringing all required items, this ensure you will be dressed for all variations as temperatures, wind, precipitation.
How experienced do I need to be?
On this course, students will benefit from previous mountaineering and rock climbing experience. However, it is not necessary. Good physical fitness is a must, comfort and experience with walking off trail and carrying a large day packs is very usefull.
Is it safe?
On all our courses, SMG provides you with fully certified IFMGA/ACMG Mountain, alpine and rock guides. This guaranties you the highest safety standards in the industry. Mountaineering remains hazardous and while it is impossible to eliminate all the hazards, our guides will maximize your experience and greatly minimize the risks involved.
Can I rent some of the equipment needed during the programs?
On this program we offer participants access to all the technical equipment at no extra charge. This includes; harnesses, helmets, belay device, carabineers, ice axes, crampons and much more. Contact us for specific sizes and availability.
Where can I rent/buy climbing & outdoor equipment?
Here are a few outdoor stores in Nelson that supply good service and quality outdoor equipment and gear rental, please ensure you rent gear well in advance.
Rivers Oceans and Mountains 354-2056 www.roamshop.com
Valhalla Pure Outfitters 354-1006 www.vpo.ca
