FW: Winter Mountaineering - Need Leaders

[Rich Draves]

Does this apply to you folks? Should we try to arrange a fieldtrip for the group?

Also - send out any suggestions for climbs for the summer.

Thanks,
Rich

-----Original Message-----
From: The Mountaineers [mailto:in...@mountaineers.org]
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2015 6:32 PM
To: Richard Draves
Subject: Winter Mountaineering - Need Leaders

Dear Climb Leaders,

In recent years, the large group format Winter Mountaineering field trip has been cancelled a number of times due to avalanche hazard. It's been difficult to be nimble and change locations with the large group for an overnighter. Thus, students from last year's intermediate class largely did not get an opportunity to learn winter mountaineering skills. This has impacted many who need the skills to be rope leaders, or future climb leaders.

So we need some help from a few of you to lead small party winter mountaineering events.

We have changed the format for Winter Mountaineering to either a one-day or two-day field trip - Leader's discretion. These field trips will be primarily small groups of 10 - 12 students. Leaders will set-up and manage the activity, and determine the location depending on conditions. Some of our mentor groups have already set-up these field trips, and we have successfully run them in the past. Skills to be covered include:

•Avalanche Skills including weather and avalanche forecast assessment, route-finding in avalanche terrain, avalanche accident response and search techniques
•Snow and Glacier Travel skills review, (including glissading, self-belay and self-arrest), and how to teach these skills.
•Snow Anchor Construction and Evaluation including pickets, bollards, and deadman.
•Belaying on Snow (running and fixed belays)
•Mixed Terrain (rock & snow) climbing & travel with crampons and ice ax
•Snow Shelters (emergency and planned)

We are looking for Leaders who can lead these field trips. We'll help you set-up the activity and recruit instructors to assist. The field trips should be scheduled after February 12th, which is when the Winter Mountaineering lecture occurs. We have a large intermediate class this year of 60 students, and many from last year who need to attend. Many will become intermediate graduates and future climb leaders.

If you are interested, please contact me or Nick Howard at nickj...@hotmail.com and he will get your the course handout and provide help with setting up the activity. I know we are all waiting for snow. That is a necessary ingredient!

Your consideration of this request is appreciated.

Regards,

Stan
Intermediate Climbing