Courses

Ski mountaineering

Are you a fan of skiing? Why not push this sport further. Whether to be introduced to the backcountry skiing or to get more techniques to access harder terrain or glacier, Attitude Montagne has developed trainings especially for you!

Alpine ski school progress

Prerequisite: Indroduction to backcountry skiing (or equivalent).

Ski (splitboard) mountaineering level 1

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This course is for participants who already do backcountry skiing or splitboarding and want to push the terrain where alpine techniques will be needed. We will learn the specifics snow anchors with skis, entry into technical ski line and rappel with skis.

  • Ski and splitboard alpinism specific equipment.
  • Use of ice axes (whippet) and crampons (ski) on various contexts and terrains.
  • Ski and splitboard  progression techniques when terrain is really hard (steep slopes, bootpack, hard snow)
  • Self-arrest with skis or board.
  • Belaying a second in a ski approach (entering a couloir, expose traverse, etc.)
  • Autonomous rappel, with and without skis or splitboard.

The Mountaineering level 1 course is a prerequisite for this course since alpine techniques (when you are not skiing) are necessary to go on a glacier and are not taught in the Ski Mountaineering course. Several techniques will be taught only in the HM1 such as basic knots, kiwi-coil, crampons use, snow anchors, etc. (non-exhaustive list). The Ski Mountaineering 1 course focuses on the ski approach so the techniques taught enhance your knowledge already acquired in the HM1. The courses are not redundant.

Limitation

Before going to the backcountry it is more then recommended to all participant to take an Avalanche Skills Training (AST1) to understand the avalanche terrain before going there. Following this course the participant should not go on terrain with crevasses requiring complex ropework or where there is avalanche danger, without the supervision of a guide or having followed a higher level course on the subject.

  • Prerequisite: Mountaineering level 1 and doing backcountry skiing / spliptboard
  • Level: beginners
  • Duration: 2 days
  • Not included: skis for backcountry or splitboard equipment

Registration and price

Ski (splitboard) mountaineering Level 2

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It is time for you to master the use of the various techniques for crevasse rescues. You will learn how to master your route finding skills and how to go progress on various terrain types, including glaciers.

  • Anchor construction on ice and snow
  • Belaying a rope leader
  • Pitched climbing on easy terrain
  • The terrain, its components and advice on glacier travel
  • Crevasse rescue
    • Rope ascending
    • Pulley systems (3 :1, 5 :1, team haul)
    • Escaping the belay

This level 2 course is similar to the mountaineering level 2 course. But, in the ski mountaineering course, all the teaching is done with a focus on a ski approach (belaying, crevasse rescue with skis, glacier travel, etc.)

Limitation

This course is designed for progression on snow and alpine ice with crevasses where route finding is important and complex. The general angle is less than 50° and the rating of the route is between Little Difficult (PD) and Difficult (D).

  • Prerequisite: Ski mountaineering level 1
  • Level: beginners
  • Duration: 2 days

Registration and price

Ski (splitboard) mountaineering Level 3

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You want to attack some bigger objectives, we will help you prepare! We will be working with you to combine the knowledge acquired in all the other courses you have taken with Attitude Montagne. We will put into practice and fine-tune the skills you have learned before to make sure you use the right technique at the right time and to make you as efficient as possible!

  • Practice skills from the 5 mountaineering/ski school modules (Mountaineering level 1, Ski mountaineering level 1 and 2, AST-1, navigation)
  • Pre-trip planning practice (avalanche, weather, navigation, emergency plan, route finding)
  • Validation of the various mountain skills and techniques to obtain autonomy
Limitation

The participant should reach an acceptable level of autonomy to undergo a mountaineering trip. Obviously, each participant is different and the level obtained during the course will be individual. Furthermore, mountaineering experience is gained over time and is necessary to understand the different mountain phenomena. Therefore it is the responsibility of each participant to judge their own skill level.

  • Prerequisite: Completion of the full Ski School Program or equivalent experience (validated by exam)
  • Level: intermediate
  • Duration: 3 days

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Mountain Navigation

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You will learn navigation skills to help you find your way in even the most remote regions of the world. These techniques pass through a complete knowledge of the tools of navigations as well as planification, either it is on trail or off trail.

  • We will teach you how to find your exact position on the Earth (navigation, coordinates)
  • We will show you how to master the navigation principals with a map, a compast, a GPS and a cellphone.
  • You will practice your techniques on the terrain
  • You will be introduced to different tools for trip planning (internet applications, cellphone applications, GPS).
  • Realization and application of a complete route plan (distance, time, etc).
  • Planification of an emergency plan.
  • Prerequisite: None
  • Level: beginners
  • Duration: 2 days

Registration and price

AST Level 1

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Goals

The level I Avalanche Skills course (introduction), will provide guidance to decision making and will be:

  • Based on the most advanced knowledge available.
  • Adapted for users with basic training and some experience
  • Introduce prior concepts for the next avalanche training.
  • Present and promote the safety course avalanche level 2 as a logical step for intermediate level decision-making skills.

At the end of the course, the student should:

  • Understand the basics of avalanche formation and release.
  • Identify avalanche terrain.
  • Know the steps required to plan and carry out a trip.
  • Use the Avaluator™ as a decision-making tool in areas where trips are rated using the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) and where Avalanche Danger Ratings and Avalanche Bulletins are available.
  • Find resources for obtaining ATES terrain ratings if their trip is not rated.
  • Find resources for obtaining Avalanche Danger Ratings and Avalanche Bulletins if these are not available.
  • Use appropriate travel techniques in avalanche terrain.
  • Carry out a companion rescue.
  • Understand the limits of their training.
  • Prerequisite: None
  • Level: beginners
  • Duration: 2 days

Registration and price

AST Level 2

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An AST 2 course is suitable for people with a moderate degree of training and experience and who have taken an AST 1 course. An AST 2 course builds on the foundations of your AST 1, and provides an intermediate decision-making framework for travelling in avalanche terrain. An AST 2 course comprises a minimum of 9.5 hours of classroom instruction with a minimum of three days in the field. The course is suitable for people with a moderate degree of training and experience.

At the end of the course, the student should:

  • Use the Avaluator2.0 as a filtering tool to determine when additional planning and travel techniques are required to travel safely.
  • Be familiar with Avalanche Danger Ratings verification techniques for personal use on a local scale.
  • Be familiar with the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) technical model as a means to develop personal, local terrain ratings.
  • Use routefinding to take advantage of nuances in terrain to manage personal risk.
  • Use travel techniques in avalanche terrain appropriate to the avalanche conditions.
  • Proficiently carry out a companion rescue.
  • Understand the limits of their training.

Included

  • Book : Staying alive in avalanche terrain
  • Terrain fieldbook

Not included

  • Transportation Attitude Montagne for the first 2 day and to training terrain for the 2 last day
  • Lodging
  • Food
  • Beacon, shovel, probe
  • Snow analysis equipment
  • Ski or splitboard
  • All personal gear and any other expenses during the training.
  • Prerequisite: AST1 (certificat requested)
  • Level: intermediate
  • Duration: 4 days

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