Options for Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue Course

Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue Course

Price per person. Group of 4–6

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Offer! 195,00 € Price per person VAT included

Pirineosur

Options for Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue Course

Glacier travel and crevasse rescue training in the Spanish Pyrenees

Crevasse-rescue training with a Z-pulley rope system on snow. Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue Course · 2 days.

Photograph: “Crevasse rescue training 03”, National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), 2015, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Adaptations: crop, resize and a graphic frame with course lettering.

Learn to organise a rope team and practise crevasse-rescue systems on PirineoSur’s two-day glacier travel and self-rescue course. Based in Jaca, in the Tena and Aragón valleys, the course develops movement, route-choice and rope skills for snow-covered glacier terrain.

It is designed for mountaineers who are new to glacier techniques or have some experience and want to complete their training. You should already know the basics of movement with an ice axe and crampons and understand the mechanics of pitched mountaineering climbs.

What will you practise?

Observing terrain, choosing and setting out a route, identifying crevasses and areas of risk.
Selecting equipment and roping-up systems according to snow quality, crevasse conditions and the number of people.
Progressing as a multi-person rope team and adapting movement to glacier angle and crevasse conditions.
Arresting falls, building anchors in snow and ice and practising belaying techniques.
Recovering a fallen partner with hauling systems and practising crevasse self-rescue.
Using maps and GPS, and assessing weather and terrain for route planning.

Practical learning over two days

The first day introduces equipment, roping up, movement with ice axe and crampons, and basic anchors. The second develops hauling, self-rescue and partner-rescue exercises, followed by a review of the learning. Small groups allow the teaching to be adapted to participants’ needs.

The course includes a certificate of participation. See the detailed programme, requirements and equipment list below, then contact PirineoSur to discuss your experience and dates.

Equipment
Requirements
Programme
Included and not included

What to bring

Waterproof jacket and trousers, such as Gore-Tex or equivalent.
Winter trekking trousers.
Semi-rigid or rigid mountaineering boots.
Crampons, ice axe, helmet and harness.
Thermal base layer.
Gloves and a spare pair.
Warm hat, cap and sunglasses.
A 45- to 50-litre backpack.
Sun protection.
Food for the practical outings and 1.5 litres of water.

Crampons, ice axe, helmet and harness are included in the course. Contact us to confirm whether you will use your own or the provided equipment.

This course is intended for people discovering glacier-specific techniques, or those with some experience who want to complete their training and learn to choose an appropriate technique for different situations.

Experience and equipment required

Know basic movement techniques with an ice axe and crampons.
Understand the mechanics of pitched climbing in mountaineering.
Have no problems with vertigo.
Have helmet, harness, ice axe and crampons available.
Have rigid or semi-rigid mountaineering boots.

Helmet, harness, ice axe and crampons are listed in the included equipment; confirm your needs with us before the course.

Indicative course content

Terrain observation and choosing and setting out an itinerary.
Selecting equipment and roping-up systems according to snow quality and crevasse conditions.
Roping-up systems and travel in rope teams with several members.
Adapting movement to glacier angle and the condition of crevasses.
Arresting falls.
Systems for recovering a person who has fallen into a crevasse.

The practical work includes roping up, equipment use, anchors, hauling and self-rescue exercises. The two-day programme can be adapted to the group and mountain conditions.