ITINERARY

Day 1 – Athabasca Glacier
 

Your course will deliver the following on Day 1:

• Roping Up for Glacier Travel
• Learn Glacier Morphology
• Learn to Safe Travel Practices on a Rope Team
• Learn a process to assist you in deciding when and where to apply rope for protection of the team, and when the additional application of prussiks to the rope team is required in complicated glaciated terrain.
• Learn to Haul an able bodied victim from a crevasse using:
  • The 2:1 Drop Loop System - For Crevasse Falls while roped up
  • The 6:1 Drop Loop System - For Added Mechanical Advantage

• 0830hrs - Meet your Group & Mountain Guide in the Athabasca Glacier parking lot for a welcome, an introduction to your group, waiver presentation and gear sign out.
   
• 0900hrs - Access the Athabasca Glacier.
   
• 0900-0920hrs - Gear up at the toe of the ice. Learn the basics of glacier movement and morphology as well as the association with crevasse formation. Learn the basics of roping up a team to travel and protect against crevasse falls. Learn to efficiently divide the rope, rig up, and discuss a 5-step process to aid in when and where to apply prussiks to the rope system.
   
• 0920 - 945hrs - Glacier Travel and instruction from your Mountain Guide, during a 25min approach to our crevasse rescue site. 
   
• 945 - 1200hrs - Basic Crevasse Rescue Demonstration - The 2:1 Drop Loop System. This system assumes that the victim has fallen in while roped up and provides you with a streamline system for extraction, considers the negative impacts of added friction to the rope system, and methods to troubleshoot common problems and challenges.
   
• 1200 - 1230hrs - Lunch
   
• 1230 - 1500hrs - Student scenarios in each of the 3 separate rope positions. Take the opportunity to see the inside of a live crevasse as a victim, or jump into two separate rope team positions requiring practice and application of different rescue applications at each position on the rope team.
   
• 1500 - 1545hrs - Demonstration & Student Practice of the 6:1 Drop Loop System. An easy addition to the 2:1 Drop Loop system, which increases your pulling power by 3x and requires minimum additional equipment to accomplish. 
   
• 1620 - 1640hrs - Groups arrive back at the trailhead, followed by a short drive to their chosen or respective accommodation options for the evening. For those jumping in on our meal plans for the program, appetizers and soup is generally served at approximately 1730hrs with dinner to follow at 1815hrs, prepared by your Guide.

Day 2 – Athabasca Glacier

Your course will deliver the following on Day 2:

• Continued Group Travel best practices
• Review of the 2:1 & 6:1 Drop Loop System as required.
• Rappel to the victim if required, exit the crevasse and haul using:
  • The 3:1 Direct Haul System for Unroped Crevasse falls, and rescue in steep or high alpine terrain (cliff rescue for ski tourers and splitboarders)

• 0830hrs - Meet your Group & Mountain Guide in the Athabasca Glacier parking lot for our Day 2 departure
   
• 0830 - 0930hrs - Access and approach Day 2 Crevasse Rescue Site
   
• 0930 - 1100hrs -  Review 2:1 & 6:1 Drop Loop System, with coaching and skills development facilitated by our Mountain Guides
   
• 1100 - 1200hrs - Demonstration and Introduction of the 3:1 Direct Haul System
   
• 1200 - 1230hrs - Lunch
   
• 1230 - 1500hrs - Student practice of 3:1 Direct Haul system + additional practice time for Drop Loop Systems where required
   
• 1600hrs - Course close, return to trailhead / parking lot

Logistics

Logistics to consider ahead of your Crevasse Rescue Systems Course:

• ACCOMMODATION:

  Looking to get a little closer to our field day location? We suggest the following accommodation options across Crevasse Rescue Systems course locations to get you into the mountains and save yourself the drive the morning of your program.

  • CANMORE 
    ALPINE CLUB OF CANADA
    THE PAINTBOX LODGE

  • BANFF
    BUFFALOBERRY LODGE

  • LAKE LOUISE
    CANADIAN ALPINE CENTRE
    THE POST HOTEL

• GEAR PURCHASES PRE-TRIP:

  For those looking to purchase gear and equipment prior to your course, we would suggest the following local Bow Valley retailers:

  • Vertical Addiction
    • Located in Canmore, Vertical Addiction offers a complete selection of technical climbing, mountaineering and ski equipment along with a broad selection of technical clothing. 
       
  • SkiUphill
    • Located in Canmore, SkiUphill is a collective of experience driven individuals each with their own history, knowledge and stories of getting out there and getting after it. They offer expertise in backcountry skiing, trail running, climbing and any combination of those activities all while offering the best selection of curated equipment.
       
  • Monods Sports
    • Located in Banff, Monods is one of the longest operating outdoor equipment and clothing retailers in the Bow Valley. Monods has a large selection of technical clothing and equipment offerings.
       
  • Ortovox
    • Our Partners at Ortovox are known for their high-quality technical outerwear and are a supporting partner of C9G and our ski guiding programs.
       
  • Black Diamond Equipment
    • Black Diamond Equipment has been providing skiers and alpinists with technical equipment since 1989, and is a supporting partner of C9G and our guided ski programs.

• TRIP FOOD & MEAL PROGRAMS:

  • Students are responsible for their own meals.
     

• TRANSPORTATION: 

  • Students are responsible for their own transportation on course.
     

• NATIONAL PARK ENTRY PASSES: 

  • Students are responsible for obtaining a National Park entry pass for their field days if required.

Required Equipment

• Students will require one of the following travel equipment kits to join us on course:
  • Ski Touring Equipment (skis, boots, poles, climbing skins, rentals available)
  • Splitboard (board, boots, poles, climbing skins, rentals available)
  • Mountaineering Boots + Snowshoes (optional, rentals available)
• Backpacks - Small Day Pack ~ 35L
• Travel Equipment - see above
• Ice Axe (optional, provided at your request)
• Crampons (optional, provided at your request)
• Harness (optional, provided at your request)
• Helmet (optional, provided at your request)
• 3 Locking Carabiners (optional, provided at your request)
• 3 Non-Locking Carabiners (optional, provided at your request)
• 120cm Sewn Sling (optional, provided at your request)
• 1x 22cm Ice Screw (optional, provided at your request)
• 2x 5 meter Prussik Cord 6mm (optional, provided at your request)
• 1x 1.5 meter Prussik Cord 6mm (optional, provided at your request)
• Sunglasses (We suggest Julbo Glasses CAT 4)
• 50+ SPF Sunscreen
• Lip Balm with SPF
• Headlamp with Fresh Batteries
• Water Bottle - 2 X Collapsable Nalgene Style Water Bottle
• Blister Kit (especially if you are not accustomed to mountain boots)
• Camera
• Trekking Pole (1 is enough)
• Sleeping Bag suitable for forecast temperatures (for students camping)
• Sleeping Pad

ESSENTIAL CLOTHING

• Base Layers - Tops and Bottoms (Wool or Synthetic Only)
• Mid Layers - Tops and Bottoms (200 Weight Wool or Synthetic is Ideal)
• Socks - Wool Blend is best, no cotton
• Light Collared Synthetic Shirt (optional, nice for the really hot, sunny days)
• Softshell Jacket and Pants
• Gore-Tex Jacket and Pants
• Sun Hat
• Buff Style Neck Tube or Similar
• Insulated Hat
• Gloves - Heavyweight and Lightweight Options
• Underwear + spares
• Down or Synthetic Insulated Jacket

TRIP CANCELLATION & INTERRUPTION INSURANCE

The Crevasse Rescue Skills Course is a non-refundable program as of 30 days prior to your course date. The best method to protect your investment with us should unforeseen arise, requiring you cancel your booking, is to purchase a Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance Policy. 

Lifestyle Insurance has covered many of Cloud Nine Guests on trips all over the world, and we have first-hand experience seeing these policies activated by our Guests. 

Safeguard your trip costs and investment with us. Request a Quote from Lifestyle Financial.

Is this coverage required?

• For Canadian Residents, coverage is suggested but not required to register.
• For Non-Canadian Citizens, coverage is suggested but not required. It is strongly suggested that your policy includes Emergency Medical Coverage, unless you carry an alternative policy which will respond in the event of medical emergency.

WAIVER - Release of Liability & Indemnity Agreement

Prior to booking you will be required to acknowledge that you have been provided a copy of our Waiver of Liability Agreement for your review. All participants, or their legal guardians wishing to participate on any Cloud Nine Programs, must acknowledge that they have been presented this document, have read it in its entirety, and understand the agreement being entered into by signing. While there is no obligation to enter into this agreement with us, it is a condition of our service provision. 

  REVIEW OUR WAIVER OF LIABILITY HERE

Booking TErms & Conditions

Before you book your course, please review our Booking Terms & Conditions. We do not accept bookings without your voluntary acceptance of these terms. Please read carefully as these terms outline specific policies and guidance for both our staff and clients with respect to refunds, cancellations, rescheduling etc.

   REVIEW OUR BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS HERE

Please note before booking: The AST Level 1 & 2 Courses are non-refundable programs. 
Those wishing to reschedule their course dates, may only do so pending our course availability. Rescheduling or order changes will incur a $25 administration fee.

Book A PRIVATE GROUP Course

For those who prefer our smallest and most focused learning environments. Groups can book a Private Group Crevasse Rescue Skills Course on course dates that suit you and your crew best, and one of our ACMG / IFMGA Mountain Guides will join you on your terms. You pick the Group Size, Field Day venues you prefer and dates outside those available on our Public Courses. Available year round. 

Private Rates as low as $517.50/person depending on your group size. Group Discounts are available for teams of 6. Or, book as an individual, with our Private Guiding Programs, rates starting at $235/day. The minimum booking number is 4+ for a private group.

How Do We Book It?

Contact our office to confirm availability for your preferred dates. We'll provide you with a private booking link for you and your group to register either together or individually.