Glacier Skiing/Snowboarding and Crevasse Rescue

Thanks to Charles for this very useful website and for allowing the Mountaineers to post course solicitations.

The Glacier Skiing/Snowboarding and Crevasse Rescue course is for skiers/snowboarders with competent backcountry skills who desire to safely travel on glaciers and to perform crevasse rescues.  This course includes 4 work shops and an overnight field trip at Mt. Rainier where the students will practice roped travel and crevasse rescues.

Completion of this course prepares you to ski or snowboard on Mountaineer trips rated M1G, M2G and M3G.  The course provides instruction on: route finding, traveling and camping on glaciers, belaying, prusiking, and crevasse rescue systems.

The required equipment includes metal edge skis and climbing skins or snowboard with an uphill climbing system (skins, approach skis or snowshoes), shovel, avalanche probe, avalanche transceiver, and crevasse rescue equipment.

To participate in the course,

    - You must be a Mountaineers member.
    - Have either graduated or obtained equivalency for the Basic Avalanche course.
    - Subscribe to the Foothills: Glacier Skiing/Snowboarding and Crevasse Rescue community on the Mountaineers' website.
    - Be able to print the course material that is part of the community.
    - Prior to the first course workshop, complete the course pre-work described in the Course Syllabus at Foothills: Glacier Skiing/Snowboarding and Crevasse Rescue community .

The course fee is $135.  Registration is open and must be completed prior to the first course session on March 25, 2008.  Register at Glacier Skiing/Snowboarding and Crevasse Rescue registration or by calling 206-284-8484.  Do NOT call the course organizer to register for the course.  Enrollment is limited to 25 students.  For more information, contact Darryl Olson at 425-226-3041 before 9:00 p.m. or darryl.olson@gmail.com or visit the Foothills Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding site .

Bumping this up to remind several folks that have mentioned earlier that they didn't want to miss this class this year.

First class starts 3/25 and one needs to be all registered and have the first reading assignment out of the way before then.  The class is limited to 25 students and fills up most every year, so you might want to take care of it right now if you don't want to miss out.

I took this class several years ago and it was by far the best outdoors class I have ever taken.  There is a huge amount of information disseminated in this course; kinda reminds you of trying to get a drink out of a fire hose.  Since then I go back every year to help teach and brush up on my glacier skills.  Nothing like a free refresher course, eh ?

There's at least a dozen other TAYers that are veterans of the class and come back to help each year as well.  It's also a great place to meet great safety conscious ski partners.

Anyone else out there have some kind words about this class?

Ron is right, this is a great class and one of the cool things about living in the PNW.  People from all over the world who happen to be in Seattle sign up for this and say it's unique.

I come back every year for re-education, catching up with friends, and more.

Here's a short film describing the course I made a couple of years ago....
Mountaneer's Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue ...a great course for sure