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Snowshelters
& Survival 2011
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FEEDBACK:
"You never know how much you need these skills
until it is too late.
Essential learning. Thanks guys" Hannah B, Perth,
2006
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| Course
Overview |
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You
are learning skills that could save your life, if you
were to be caught out in the future, whether in Scotland
or the Alps. From just £99 for the weekend, you
can't afford not to book on one of these popular courses. |
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We
care for the environmental impact of snowholes, and all
these courses are planned in line with our role as a UIAA
environment label holder. |
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We
fully check your equipment, to ensure it is up to the
task, and that your safety is not put in jeopardy. If
you have any concerns about your kit, we have a large
stock of rental equipment in our Chamonix office. |
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Snow safety and avalanche awareness is a key focus of
the weekend, and you will be wearing avalanche tranceivers
throughout the course. Safety kit such as tranceivers,
shovels, probes & snowshoes is provided. |
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Dates:
These courses are run on demand for private groups from
mid-December to mid-April. See base of page for group
/ bespoke prices. |
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The
course at a glance... |
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Weekend course, run December to April. Price from £99
per person. |
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No rock or ice climbing experience necessary. All technical
kit is provided for the days. |
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Top tip... this weekend can be extended with an Avalanche
Awareness day for £49! |
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You could also consider week long... Winter
Intro Ice & Alpine
or
Off
Piste Clinic |
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Course
Photo Gallery
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Brief
Course Itinerary |
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the morning you meet in our centrally located Chamonix office,
and meet with your instructor who will be an expert in backcountry
travel and snow safety. Over a coffee they will talk through
the plans for the next days, and the latest conditions. Then
it's time for a quick route safety plan, and sorting out any
safety kit that is needed. There is a great choice of locations
to operate these courses, such as the Plan de l'Aiguille, Berard
Valley, or La Tour. We can always find a suitable and safe location
to react to the snow conditions and avalanche forecast. |
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the days are conducted in rolling nordic syle terrain, where
you can study the snow pack safely. To access the region you
either drive up the Chamonix valley, or take a cable car, and
then walk in on snow shoes to reach the region. This means that
the course is equally accessible to skiers with no touring experience,
winter walkers / climber, or boarders. The key learning points
of these weekends are as follows: |
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Avalanche tranceiver
searches |
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Slab formation
and layering |
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Kit selection for Alpine winters |
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Winter navigation methods |
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Tranceiver
detection fields |
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Travel techniques
on snowpacks |
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Trip planning
and preparation |
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Construction menthods of snowholes |
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Choosing sites for snowholes |
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Decision making
processes |
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Different types
of avalanches |
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Weather &
climatic influences |
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| During
the day you will learn about snow pack evolution, crystal metamorphasis,
and layering. You also judge snow stability, and are taught
how to react to an avalanche in terms of tranceivers, probing
and search patterns. Later in the day you reach the area for
the snowholes and are taught how to construct one. Even with
snow shovels, it takes about one hour per occupant to construct
your shelter, and good teamwork is required. You learn how to
look after your kit, then move in to your snowhole! |
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well built snow shelter will be warm and will protect you from
the elements. As darkness falls you cook dinner and go to bed.
Your
instructor will ensure you have built a good shelter, so you
should get a really good and warm nights sleep. In the morning
you wake up, and get the stove on for some hot drinks to coax
you out of your sleeping bag. Then you pack up, and set off
on the second day of your winter journey. The trek ends back
in the valley, and you travel back to Chamonix to arrive around
mid afternoon, in time for a coffee and debrief in the Icicle
office. |
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| ITINERARY
NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries. Mountain
adventures are weather and conditions dependant, so occasionaly
we are forced to alter the plans. If this is the case,
suitable alternatives are offered. Please use this outline
itinerary as a guide to the types of route / activity
that you will attempt. |
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| Course
Prices |
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Standard
course
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2
days guiding, 2 days holiday in total |
from
£99* |
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Premium
course
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2
days guiding, 3 days holiday in total
(Standard course plus 2 nights B&B
gite accommodation) |
+£50pp |
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Secure
online booking system |
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| Standard
Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain Guide or UIMLA
International Mountain Leader for two days, with their kit and
food, 2) Chamonix course hosts for logistics & briefings,
3) Pre course information booklet, 4) Equipment discount voucher
for UK shops, 5) Chamonix office support, 6) Free course instruction
crib sheet. |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to & from Chamonix, 2) Cable Cars (approx £15),
3) Accommodation, 4) Personal laundry, telephone calls, lunches,
& any purchases in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants,
5) Food and cooking for the snowhole (stoves etc can be rented),
6) Activities insurance, & excess baggage charges. |
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| Price
Notes*: The
price drops as following depending on the numbers booking together;
1p £399,
2p £199pp, 3p £149pp, 4p £129pp, 5p £119pp,
6p £99pp. |
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| Notes:
The
loan of all technical equipment for each client is included*
in the course price as required: snowshoes, avalanche tranceiver,
avalanche probe and shovel. |
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| Upgrade
options |
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Acclimatisation
Weekend
£99
(throughout the season) |
To
get the most out your course, acclimatisation is essential
so that you minimise the chances of AMS (altitude sickness)
later on during your course,
details. |
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Avalanche
Skills Day
£49
(throughout the season) |
To
learn avalanche prediction, reutschblocks and use of avalanche
tranceivers. Course is available on any day during the
week (includes ARVA),
details. |
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