Winter Mountaineering & Advanced Crevasse Rescue (aka Intermediate Glacier Travel)

please read!!!

Due to COVID-19, the course has been Cancelled

The Seattle Climbing Committee is committed to building and fostering a representative climbing community that reflects the spaces in which we live and recreate. We recognize that outdoor recreation has historically excluded communities of color, women, and LGBTQ people. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other underrepresented communities. 

Due to interest in the the course, an application/lottery system has been implemented for module students. On January 15th, those interested in the course may submit their interest via the "Apply" button to the right.

Please note: all students MUST hold a Basic Alpine Climbing Course Badge or Basic Glacier Travel Badge. Those who have experience outside the Mountaineers must be enrolled and have successfully pass the Equivalency Evaluation. The next evaluation is on  04/07/2020. Please contact me after January 15th if you are enrolled in equivalency and have not yet received a Basic Climbing Badge. Due to differences in curriculum and skills required to graduate, namely rappelling and travel techniques on foot, those that have taken Glacier Skiing and Crevasse Rescue and are interested in the course must also take the Basic Equivalency.

Welcome to the Intermediate Glacier Travel Course (IGT)!

This course teaches both the technical and non-technical skills needed to comfortably plan and lead a glacier climb.

Through evening sessions at the program center and days in the field, students will practice good climbing technique, perfect self and team arrests, learn to place protection in snow and ice, manage moderately-steep snow slopes (up 55 deg), build and equalize anchors, construct advanced haul systems for crevasse rescue, set up group camps, and more!  Lectures will also cover basic expedition planning, including route selection, in-the-field evaluation, a navigation refresher, and how to write a practical trip plan.

The course is composed of 6- 7 sessions: 3 evening sessions at the Program Center, 2 field days, and 1 or 2 experience days.  Please see below for course dates; you must attend the kickoff, one Technical Skills 1, one Technical Skills 2, 2 Field Trip days (probably an overnight), and an experience trip.

This course assumes competency in the following

• basic knots and hitches
• crevasse self-extrication (ascending a rope)
• rappelling
• basic crevasse rescue (Drop Loop or Z-Pulley)
• basic snow/glacier travel (roped/unroped travel, rope management, navigation) 

Please note that there are multiple field trips and experience trip offerings. Those in a mentor groups should strive to complete their field trips with their groups.  Module students should ask for permission to join these, or may join any field trip designated as (module). 

Learn more about the intermediate climbing program and how the modules fit into the program in the Intermediate Alpine Climbing Handbook.

Also when signing up for this course consider registering at the same time to help instruct with the Crevasse Rescue Evaluation field trip for our basic climbing students. This is a great way to refresh skills and teach these new students some tips and tricks you've learned in intermediate. 

Corequisites

• All students are expected to have successfully completed a Level 1 AIARE course prior to attending the in-the-field days.
• If you plan to rope lead for Mountaineers Climbs, you also need to take the Teaching & Leadership class https://www.mountaineers.org/locations-lodges/seattle-branch/committees/seattle-climbing-committee/seminars-clinics/teaching-and-leadership-mountaineers-seattle-program-center-2