Awarding Body

Mountain Training

Scheme

British Mountain Guide

Course

Ski Touring Training

Type

Training

Award Description

This international award trains and assesses candidates in the skills required to guide climbing (including the coaching of lead climbing) skiing and mountaineering on rock, snow & ice, and in alpine terrain. It is administered by the BMG to the standards set by the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA). The Guide’s carnet is an extensively used professional award.

Ski Touring Training Course Monday 6th April to Friday 10th April 2020

Convenor:        Graham McMahon

Trainers:           Graham McMahon,  Graham Frost

This course is open to all winter trainees that have passed the Scottish winter assessment

Meeting Place and Date.

Sunday 5th April at 6.30pm at the Pension Lac Bleu, La Gouille Arolla. The course will open with a review of the aims, objectives and options for this week.

Accommodation

The course will start at the Pension Lac Bleu, La Gouille, Arolla Switzerland. http://www.pension-du-lac-bleu.ch telephone +41 27 283 11 66 mob +41 79 811 47 12

Route de la Gouille 1, 1984 La Gouille, Suisse.

There are rooms and a bunkhouse. There are also potential parking spots for van dwellers though it would be best if everyone took an evening meal and possibly breakfast, to help with briefings and discussions.

Please note we meet the evening before the course date.

Outline of Programme

Meet 6.30pm Sunday evening for course briefings.

The ski touring venue will be based around the Swiss Valais. Sample programme:

Day 1. Arolla to Cabane des Dix via Arolla ski lifts.

Day 2 Mont Blanc de Chelion and second night at Cabane des Dix.

Day 3 Traverse Pigne D'Arolla. Spend the night at hotel.

Day 4 Travel to Cabane des Aiguille Rouge, possibly via La Cassorte traverse.

Day 5 Pointe de Vouasson and descent to Evolene/ La Gouille

The afternoons normally comprise of instruction sessions. Kick turns and track preparation, Transceiver training for clients, emergency evacuation methods, ski belays and crevasse rescue.

Please refer to the course syllabus below for the full list of techniques to be covered.

Transport

Use own cars.

Cost

The full cost is £790.00 (Excludes accommodation and uplift)

Booking

Please book and pay via the CMS

Equipment.

Ski Touring equipment for a glaciated hut to hut ski tour.

Helmets- there maybe situations during the course where helmets are desirable so please bring a ski helmet or suitable mountaineering helmet.

Ropes-The trainers will have some ropes but please bring a rope suitable for glacier travel. We ask that this is at least 8mm in diameter.

Map 283S Arolla 1:50 000 Swiss National Map

Map 284S Mischabel 1:50 000

Map 1346 Chanrion 1:25 000

Map 1347 Matterhorn 1:25 000

Guidebook Ski Randonnée Bas Valais CAS (difficult to find so don’t worry as I have a copy).

Pre-course preparation

Please familiarise yourself with this area and consider what other options may be available for the week in case of poor conditions. Please also look at neighbouring resorts (e.g.  Zinal, Crans-Montana, Verbier)

It is also very valuable to know the current snow conditions and weather forecast.

http://www.slf.ch/index_EN and http://www.meteoschweiz.admin.ch/web/fr/meteo/previsions_en_detail.html

Post Course Requirements.

As part of a consolidation for the techniques taught on this course it is required that you make a 5 day ski tour after this course and within the same ski season. Ideally this should be done with your peer students but it can be done with friends. You should take an active lead role in this ski tour to help you consolidate your decision making and ski guiding techniques.

This ski tour should be logged in your log book under personal experience.

Please contact me if you need any further information.

Graham McMahon email: graham@mountainguide.eu.com Tel: +33 648 69 98 95

SKI MOUNTAINEERING SYLLABUS

ALPINE SKIING

• piste downhill skiing - the ability to ski linked, parallel turns of varying radius with good basic balance and control
• off-piste skiing - the ability to ski in a variety of snow conditions safely, efficiently and in control

Downhill Skiing Skills - demonstrate good technique in the following areas:

• deep snow
• crusty snow
• firm/icy snow
• steep ground, side slipping, jump turns
• bad visibility
• braking with ski sticks

Uphill Skiing Skills - demonstrate and convey sound advice regarding:

• use of equipment – skis, bindings, ski crampons, skins
• skinning technique
• star turns, kick turns,use of axe to improve track and turning platform
• setting a good skinning track - route choice geared to client ability, equipment, terrain and snow conditions
• carrying skis on rucksack

Roped Skiing

• rope choice, roping up, tying on, distance apart
• roped skiing uphill/downhill, changing direction and rope control
• holding a fall
• escaping from the system
• ski belays
• hoisting and crevasse rescue

Route Planning and Navigation

• route planning on the map/on the ground
• use of altimeter
• skiing on a bearing – uphill, flat and downhill
• judgement of distance - Use of GPS

Rescue and Evacuation

• crevasse rescue - with problems associated with an un-roped skier in crevasse
• avalanche transceivers -checking and introduction to clients
• first aid and cold injury
• improvised sledge - stretcher kit/bivi bag
• evacuation of victim on improvised stretcher on a variety of terrain
• understanding organisation of larger rescue, callout and search methods

Avalanche

Avalanche work on this course will be of a practical nature: related to conditions found in the week, avalanche terrain and route choice. A good decision making process is essential.

Tour Preparation

• planning and preparation 3x3 checklist
• hut use/reservations
• training and briefing clients
• equipment

Off-Piste Guiding

• group management, control and briefing
• client care and security on difficult terrain
• Special considerations with snowboarders
• rucksack contents - guide/clients/group, off piste/touring
• searching for lost skis
• route choice - client ability, terrain traps, snow conditions
• descent of avalanche-prone areas, precautions and protection
• use of radios and sat phones, cell phones , emergency beacons.
• Choice and use of ropes for abseil/lower/static line
• glacier skiing

Any problems booking please contact, BMG, Siabod Cottage, Capel Curig, Conwy LL24 0ES.

Start

06/04/2020 07:00

End

10/04/2020 04:00

Total Days

5

Maximum Bookings

8

Venue

Pension du lac blanc, La Gouille

Town

Arolla

County

Valais

Postcode

1986

Country

Switzerland

Latitude

46.05366

Longitude

7.49014

Name

British Mountain Guides

Phone

+33 (0)648 69 98 85

Email