Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue
How to Travel on Glaciers and What to Do If It Goes Wrong
Whether you're looking to summit the local volcanoes of Mount Garibaldi and Mount Baker, or the Bugaboos' alpine rock splitters - all climbers need the skills to travel over glaciers safely and perform a rescue if your partner ever takes a plunge.
Our Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue provides the fundamental skills for any aspiring mountaineer or backcountry skier. The course covers how to approach a glacier, travel across safely, and how to execute a quick crevasse rescue. We spend one night in the backcountry to maximize field time, using practical skills in real mountain terrain.
Due to COVID 19, a portion of this course is now available online! Click here for more information.
The Goods
Length: 2 Days, 1 Night
Locations: Squamish or Whistler, BC.
Prerequisites: Previous mountain climbing or scrambling.
Highlight Skills: Roping up for glacier travel, haul systems and snow anchors.
Season: Scheduled Dates All Summer.
Max. Guest to Guide Ratio: 6:1
Price: $350
What You Will Learn
Participants will be immersed into the field for two full days of hard skill training. We'll cover all the required gear for glacier travel and crevasse rescue, a wide range of glacier travel techniques, glaciology, and how to perform crevasse rescue in various scenarios.
- Understanding Mountain Hazards
- How Crevasses Are Formed
- Glacier Travel
- Short Roping for Glacier Travel
- Pitched Snow Climbing
- Self Arrest
- Crevasse Rescue
I contacted five companies about setting up a custom mountaineering trip and Altus immediately got back to me with all sorts of helpful, informative details. They were much easier and better to work with than all the other companies.
- Michele G
I felt safe and secure, and I learned a tonne. Great objective, great weather, great food, and great company - it doesn't get any better than this! Can't wait to get back out there with the Altus guides - don't leave home without 'em!
- Nigel B
Is This Course for You?
Although our Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue course is an introductory course, basic scrambling or mountaineering experience is required. Participants must also be able to hike uphill for approximately 3 hours to access glacier terrain.
- Previous Scrambling or Mountaineering Experience
- Understanding of Basic Climbing Knots
- Moderate Fitness (hike uphill for 3 hours)
- Comfortable in Rough and Undulating Terrain
Itinerary
Day 1
8 am-9 am: Meet at the Squamish Adventure Centre and head to the Smoke Bluffs for a technical skills day.
9 am-4 pm: Practice Crevasse Rescue and Rope Skills
- Understanding the required gear
- Haul:Drop Loop 3:1, 6:1
- Rappel and Rope Climbing
- Lowering/ belay into a steep line or cornice
- Setting up a rappel
- Roping up for glacier travel
Day 2
8 am-4 pm: Glacier Travel and Navigation Skills
- Understanding glacier/ alpine environment
- Identifying mountain hazard
- Snow assessments in big or steep terrain
- Assessing glaciers
- Navigation
- Route planning
- Managing cornices
Scheduled Courses 2022
May 14-15 $350 / person
All prices are in CAD dollar and subject to 5% sales tax
June 4-5 $350 / person
July 9-10 $350 / person
August 6-7 $350 / person
August 20-21 $350 / person
Custom Dates on Demand
All listed prices are in CAD and subject to 5% sales tax.
More Details
Add-Ons
Still Have Questions or Concerns?
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, concerns or requests on how we can make this the best trip ever!
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Popular Trips
Altus mountain guides is a group of motivated professionals dedicated to providing our clients with outstanding quality in the mountains with safe adventurous trips. From our base in Squamish and Whistler BC we provide you access to the most amazing mountain experiences the West Coast has to offer. Our exciting itineraries showcase the Coast Range but reach beyond to the interior ranges of the Selkirkʼs and Purcellʼs and onto the Rockies. We also offer trips internationally from the historic and classic European Alps to the windswept wilds of Patagonia.