This course covers a wide range of the technical aspects of alpine climbing. The hands-on approach will keep learners constantly active and is designed to lay a solid foundation in both safety and climbing skills needed to climb big mountains. If the principles taught on this course are adhered to, and continued with diligence, they will serve you well in keeping you safe in your new, healthy outdoor passion.
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This programme comprises a basic course first week, with one day of theory and two days of practical, and the more advanced course the next week. Theory covered and practised
on simulated ice and snow slopes or grass banks include:
- Team rope travel skills on ice slopes and glaciers.
- Knots and slings, climbing harness and other gear usage.
- Prusik and jumars, setup and use.
- Ice anchors setup.
- Belaying and running belays.
- Glacier safety, including crevasse rescue - how to prevent and participate.
- Fixed line travel with mechanical ascenders.
- Fall arrest on steep snow.
- High altitude, avalanche and extreme cold theory.
We also include a cold room exercise, rehearsing final summit day prep and testing gear in simulated conditions below minus 10 degrees C.
Learning aids include a prescribed manual and video footage of alpinists to assist in understanding the techniques.
Weekend sessions will be at a venue with grass banks where you will be taught the work hands-on, using ice gear loaned to you for the occasion so that your own gear does not get
damaged. A very enjoyable and excellent preparation for big mountain plans in the near future.
Two-and-a-half full days at an outdoor location, preceded by three evenings of theory at our training centre in Florida North, Johannesburg or at a venue of your choice if we have 5 or more students.