General mountaineering intro course

• Wilderness Hazard Recognition and risk management

• Proper fitting and selection of backpacking equipment

• What to pack on a multi-day trip

• Bear and wildlife safety considerations

• Leave no trace techniques and principles

• Trip planning

• Meal planning

• Organizing a pack for a multi-day backpacking trip

• Pacing while on the trail

• Navigation with map, compass and GPS

• Camp site selection

• Shelter construction

• Emergency gear and preparedness

• Selecting proper footwear

• Dressing for the mountains

• Checking weather and conditions

• Mountaineering knots and harness use.

• movement on steep snow

• use of ice axe

• self-arrest on snow

• glacier morphology,

• crampon technique,

• low angle ice climbing,

• ice screw placement,

• roping up for glaciers

• Travel as a rope team

• crevasse rescue techniques,

• ice anchors

• Basic Route Planning

• Map Scales

• Grid System and Grid References

• Map Symbols

• Contour Lines and basic interpretation

• Use of the compass to take bearings from a map

• Walking on general compass bearings

• Identifying large features on a map and then finding them in the surrounding area

• Handrailing large features

• Macro or large area navigation techniques

• How to re-orientate yourself if you do get lost

• Use of the compass to take bearings on the map

• Intersections / Resections

• Walking on general compass bearings

• Locating your position

• Basic functions of GPS (smartphones) and how they work

• Limitations of the technology

• App settings

• Map Layers

• Route Planning using apps

• Setting waypoints and creating a track on the smartphone.

• How to find your location

• Follow a route

• Tracking a route

• What to do when the GPS doesn’t work

• Reading the map information on the smartphone and confirming your position

• Navigation course

• Following a track

• Tracking a route

Personal Gear

• Boots – 3 Season Mountaineering boots. Waterproof and crampon compatible. NSM can provide boots if required. (Included - limited availability so let us know well ahead of time your shoe size!)

• Sleeping bag – good to approx. -5 or -10 degrees Celsius. (NSM can rent you this if you need it- Additional fee $10/day.)

• Sleeping pad – Therm-a-rest style or closed-cell foam. (NSM can provide this if you need - Included)

• Tent 2-4 person. ( Tent based trips only. NSM can provide this if you need - Included.)

• Large back pack - 50-80 liter capacity. (NSM can provide this if you need - Included.)

• Day-pack – 20-40 liter capacity (NSM can provide this if you need - Included)

• Outer layer jacket with hood – Gore-Tex style

• Lightweight outer layer waterproof pants – Gore-Tex style

• Lightweight thermal layers – top & bottom, Polypro, Icebreaker, etc.

• Climbing/hiking pants – nylon, fleece, Schoeller, etc. (1 pair)

• Gloves (medium weight) – wool or poly-pro (2 pair)

• Waterproof gloves or mitts (gloves work best) (2 pairs)

• Warm parka/jacket – down, synthetic, fleece or pile (1)

• Sweater or vest – wool, synthetic, fleece or down (1)

• Socks – wool or synthetic blend (2-3 pairs)

• Toque/warm hat – wool or fleece (1)

• Sunglasses – UV block with good eye coverage (1pr)

• Headlamp with new batteries

• Personal 1st aid (blister kit, toothbrush, blister kit, toilet paper, etc.)

• Misc. personal items (camera, journal, etc.)

• Sunscreen – minimum spf45

• Water bottles/hydration system – minimum 1 liters

• Walking pole(s) – Optional but helpful for the approach/descent

• Gaiters (1 pair) – Optional if built-in paint gaiters or boot gaiters

• Small “thermos” for hot drinks (optional)

Communal equipment (supplied by NSM as needed):

• Lightweight 2 or 3 person tent for tent based trips

• Group tent / cooking shelter

• Cook stove and fuel

• Cooking sets

• Personal eating utensils – cup, bowl, spoon

• Compass and map

• GPS

• Ropes, rock, snow or ice protection

• Emergency shelter

• First aid kit

• Satellite communication device

• VHF radio

Technical equipment (supplied by NSM as required)

• Ice axe and technical climbing tools

• Climbing harness – seat harness only

• Helmet

• 3 locking carabineers

• 1x120cm sewn sling

• 1 x belay/rappel device

• Crampons – General Mountaineering style adjusted to your boots (1 pair)

• Ice Screws

• Snow Anchors