Mountaineering Leadership Course

GALLERY

Overview of Alpine Climbing Leadership Program

DETAILS

Join Us On 8 Days Mountaineering Leadership Course

This eight-day course is divided into two parts. The first is five-days and the second is three-days. These two parts will be separated into different weeks so students have time to absorb and practice information from the first section before they are given leadership responsibilities during the second.

Part 1: The first component is a five-day Mountaineering Skills Course. This Mountaineering Leadership Course is typically in terrain that is more advanced than that on our standard Mountaineering Skills Course. Generally we do this course on the Fischer Chimneys Route of Mt. Shuksan, which not only has glacier travel, but also steep snow climbing, low angle ice climbing, and rock climbing. Learn basic glaciology, route finding, gear selection, food planning, expedition cooking and camping, rope handling, knots and hitches that apply to glacier travel, how to attach to a rope, how to move as a rope team over glacier, how to self-arrest, and how to perform crevasse rescue in a real crevasse. You will also have the opportunity to summit a glaciated peak as part of the first five days of the course. This course will give you the knowledge and skills necessary to begin planning your own trips into glaciated terrain.

Part 2: After completing the five-day skills course you will assist on a three-day guided climb of a glaciated peak. This can take place the following weekend or later in the season, but cannot take place the following year because information can be forgotten between your course and the guided climb. The climb that you will assist on will be different than the one you climbed during the first five-days, so you will be in new terrain and exposed to new challenges. As a student in the Alpine Climbing Leadership Program you will be expected to take-on duties such as camp set-up and cooking, and teach classes to climbing members, such as rope team travel. Typically one day of the climb will be designated to practicing kick-stepping techniques in snow, ice axe positions, self-arrest, and team arrest. Your guides will then lead a summit climb, giving you time to practice the skills you have learned while progressing to and descending from the summit.

Prerequisites For Mountaineering Leadership Course

Previous multi-day backpacking experience
Excellent physical fitness, with the ability to carry a pack weighing 40lbs up and down 5,000ft of elevation over the course of 12 hours.

Skills Covered Mountaineering Leadership Course:

Equipment selection for glaciated routes
Stacking, flaking, and coiling alpine ropes
Knots and hitches for glacier travel and crevasse rescue
Setting-up a rope team
Introduction to glaciology and glacial features
Glacier navigation
Hazard recognition and management
Long to short rope transitions
Using running protection
Snow walking techniques with and without crampons
Team arrest
Alpine weather
Crevasse Rescue: Self-rescue
Crevasse Rescue: Partner-rescue
Caring for yourself and others in an alpine environment
Principles of teaching in an outdoor setting

Duration

8 Days 7 nights camping

Gear check

Required

Passport

Not needed for US citizens

Minimum Age

16 years old

Activity

Glacier Mountaineering

Accommodation

Tents

PRICE BASIS

PRICE INCLUDES

Fuel, Pots, and Stoves
Tents
Group climbing equipment
Guide Services

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

Transportation
Parking or entry fees (when applicable)
Food or drinks
Accommodation before or after the trip/course
Personal clothing
Personal climbing equipment (rentals available)
Gratuities for guides

Testimonials

I did the Intro to Rock climbing course last summer and really enjoyed it, The right kind of setup/ preparation and structure for a beginner ( with intermediate level opportunity on demand ). Miyar provided all gear and guidance and answered all questions. Safety and fun were both top priority. Looking forward to go to Kili and Himalayas with Miyar in near future.
Hitesh
Intro to rock climbing on Mt. Tooth. I had done fair amount of rock climbing and bouldering inside the safety of the gym, and I was always skeptic of rock climbing outside, until I met the owner of Miyar adventures "Sandeep Nain". He asked me to come out with him on a small outing in to a nearby mountain called Mt Tooth in the PNW. it was supposed to be a 1:1 climb and I was surprised that to make me comfortable he had bought in another lead at his expense. With a 2:1 guide to student ratio I knew I was going to be okay. Not only was it professionally and well organized, I felt Sandeep and Ben (additional lead) went beyond what was expected of them to make me feel good about climbing outside. I would totally recommend Sandeep's Miyar adventures over other bigger companies because they gave importance to my personal goals and unlike the other bigger companies out there which treats you without much respect, Sandeep and Miyar adventures took genuine interest in my limits, goals and treated me with a lot of respect. I ended up doing another course "Mt. Denali prep course" and looking forward to a few other outings with Miyar adventures in the near future. I hear their trip to Kilimanjaro is a real success, and will totally be checking it out next year.
Dinesh
I had done some rock climbing 20 years back but did not have confidence of getting onto the rock again. I did not like the climbing walls in the gym with their big rounded holds which almost feel slippery. I had almost given up on climbing when I found about Sandeep's Intro to Rock Climbing Course. Knowing about his Rainier climb leader role, I knew it will be a great learning experience. I did the course on Sept 7th. Starting with the basics, Sandeep made it so easy that in a short time we were not only ready to try harder routes but were also ready to belay the fellow climbers under his guidance. Even though we were climbing in a pretty safe environment, he made sure that we follow the safety measures and wanted us to make it a habit. He says all of us are ready to pass the belayer certificate test at the local gym. I better attempt that before I forget the basics :).
Jyoti Gawade
I took the Intro To Outdoor Rock Climbing Course August 24th and had a great time! The instruction given by Sandeep Nain was well organized and detailed. Our infield curriculum included review and practical applications of climbing gear, climbing knots, climbing commands, belay techniques, climbing ethics and of course safety, which Sandeep emphasized throughout this one day course. Our group then had the opportunity to do 5+ top rope climbs on routes varying in difficulty, great work out! On top of meeting some great people we finished the day with a dip in the river! You can't beat that! I highly recommend this course.
Thomas Conway
As a newbie to rock climbing, I took the intro to outdoor rock climbing with Miyar Adventures. Our lead instructor, Sandeep was great and so was his assistant who joined us for the course training at Gritscone. As a group of five, we were able to tackle five climbs in one day ranging from 5.5 to 5.9. This allowed each climber more opportunities to practice the techniques, work on the commands, and gain experience with various rock formations. It’s a great value esp. considering we were a small group. Sandeep is a knowledgeable climber and a genuinely nice person. We hung out for a bit after the course and had great conversations with interesting people!
Jeff Permuy.