|
|
We have designed this course to give you the basic skills for safe travel in snow terrain in various winter recreational activities including snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and winter mountaineering. The avalanche training portion of this course is not specifically designed for back country skiers though who need more extensive avalanche training. This skills taught are listed below. You will receive a digital textbook that will cover all of the skills in the course in detail. (Please note that the course site may change depending on snow and weather conditions)
Avalanche Awareness Content (1.5 hours lecture, 7 hours field practice)
Saturday- We'll get up early and after breakfast start off with the classroom part of the avalanche content. This will take about 90 minutes and then we will pack up and head out to the Ichinokura valley. Along the way to our campsite for the night, we will cover and practice some of the avalanche terrain travel techniques, as well as risk assessment practice including digging test pits to evaluate the snow layering, and check the ease of slide.
After arriving at the course site we will set up camp and then start working on the individual avalanche rescue skills.
Sunday- In the AM we will put all the individual skills that we studied together to complete a couple of full avalanche search and rescue scenarios. We will have real victims buried in the snow, and will practice all parts of a rescue scenario.
In the PM we will learn how to dig a snow cave, and actually spend the night in the cave.
Monday- Following breakfast we will pack up all of our gear and make the short hike out back to the van and then repack for a day trip up Tanigawa-dake. We'll have a field practice session to go over ice axe and crampon skills, and practice self arrest at the top of the gondola before starting the ascent. After getting these skills down, all the content from the previous 2 days is going to be put together with a climb to the summit of Tanigawa. We will practice safe avalanche terrain travel techniques, do snow block stability tests on steeper slopes before ascending, and make use of those ice axe and crampon skills for the climb. After the climb, we'll make our way back
Equipment Notes
Everyone is required to have an avalanche beacon and a snow shovel. Shovels are a reasonable price, and can be purchased from any outdoor shop, and should be standard kit for anyone climbing winter mountains, even on day trips. We will provide a few probes for everyone to share, and rentals of other gear are available. You will also need a compass, preferably one with a slope meter on it. If you aren't sure about this, just get in touch and we can recommend a few.
**You are also required to purchase mountaineering rescue insurance before participating in this trip. We can provide names of providers and help you through the application process.
Avalanche Awareness Content (1.5 hours lecture, 7 hours field practice)
- General information about avalanche hazard, how to avoid it, and proper equipment for traveling in avalanche terrain.
- Avalanche terrain and terrain traps
- Basic route selection
- Snow pack layering
- Snow Pit Testing Practice
- Current snowpack conditions and weather effects
- Companion recovery including probing, shoveling, beacon use
- Snowcave building
- Navigation in white out conditions (Map and Compass)
- Using a GPS for white out navigation
- 10 essentials of winter travel
- Ice Axe Self Belay and Self Arrest
- Walking on Crampons, climbing and descending
- Crampon and axe techniques for steep snow and ice (French Technique, front pointing, high dagger, low dagger position)
Saturday- We'll get up early and after breakfast start off with the classroom part of the avalanche content. This will take about 90 minutes and then we will pack up and head out to the Ichinokura valley. Along the way to our campsite for the night, we will cover and practice some of the avalanche terrain travel techniques, as well as risk assessment practice including digging test pits to evaluate the snow layering, and check the ease of slide.
After arriving at the course site we will set up camp and then start working on the individual avalanche rescue skills.
Sunday- In the AM we will put all the individual skills that we studied together to complete a couple of full avalanche search and rescue scenarios. We will have real victims buried in the snow, and will practice all parts of a rescue scenario.
In the PM we will learn how to dig a snow cave, and actually spend the night in the cave.
Monday- Following breakfast we will pack up all of our gear and make the short hike out back to the van and then repack for a day trip up Tanigawa-dake. We'll have a field practice session to go over ice axe and crampon skills, and practice self arrest at the top of the gondola before starting the ascent. After getting these skills down, all the content from the previous 2 days is going to be put together with a climb to the summit of Tanigawa. We will practice safe avalanche terrain travel techniques, do snow block stability tests on steeper slopes before ascending, and make use of those ice axe and crampon skills for the climb. After the climb, we'll make our way back
Equipment Notes
Everyone is required to have an avalanche beacon and a snow shovel. Shovels are a reasonable price, and can be purchased from any outdoor shop, and should be standard kit for anyone climbing winter mountains, even on day trips. We will provide a few probes for everyone to share, and rentals of other gear are available. You will also need a compass, preferably one with a slope meter on it. If you aren't sure about this, just get in touch and we can recommend a few.
**You are also required to purchase mountaineering rescue insurance before participating in this trip. We can provide names of providers and help you through the application process.
|
Included in the Trip Fee
-Round trip transportation from Tokyo -An experienced and certified instructor -Extensive winter skills training and practice -Dinner and breakfast -Snowshoes and sled Participation Fee: 27,500 yen Rental Gear is available for the following fees:
Trekking Poles: 1000 yen 8 point Hiking Crampons: 1000 yen Ice Ax: 3500 yen Deuter Backpack (55L): 5500 yen Mountaineering Boots: 9000 yen Shell Jacket, Pants, Gloves, and Goggle Set: 7000 yen Sleeping Bag: 1,500 yen (Limited supply) Avalanche Beacon: 1,500 yen Shovel Rental: 1,000 yen |
・Required Equipment:
Shoes Waterproof Winter Mountaineering Boots Clothing Waterproof shell jacket and pants, base layer, fleece layers, wool socks and liner socks, gaiters, liner and outer gloves, warm hat Other Items Compass, 2 x 2 Plastic sheet, Ski goggles, sunglasses, 2 days lunch and snacks, backpack, stove and personal cooking pot, cup and spoon Technical Gear 8~12 point crampons, ice axe, sleeping bag and pad (-10 degrees),Avalanche Beacon, Snow Shovel ・Maximum Participants: 8
|