Crevasse Rescue Course

Learn from AMGA-Certified Ski Guides

This course is for advanced skiers who want to increase their safety while skiing on glaciers, whether on the Eklutna Traverse, or in the Alaska Range. It will focus on avoiding crevasse falls by reading the glacier, rope management, and then what to do if things go wrong. For rescue we will practice building anchors, ascending a rope for self rescue, and the crevasse rescue haul system. Since this course is designed to add the risk of crevasse fall to backcountry skiing, it’s important that everyone is an advanced skier with avalanche training.

Your instructors Joe, Elliot, and Nick have been trained and examined at the international level as AMGA Ski Guides. This means you will learn the absolute best skills for your next Alaska glacier ski trip.

With limited daylight, reaching a glacier with crevasses will not be possible on this course. Instead, this course focusses on learning the hard skills (knots, rope systems, anchors, etc) that require time for repetition.

We Will Cover

Glaciology and glacier hazards discussion
How to avoid a crevasse fall
Gear for crevasse rescue
Setting up your harness
Knots: figure 8s, overhands, Munter hitch, clove hitch, prusik hitch, and autoblock hitch.
Roping together
Rescue coils and/or Kiwi coils
Stopper knots
Self-arresting a fall
Snow anchors
Ascending a rope for self rescue
Unroped crevasse falls
Haul systems
- Direct haul (pulling straight out)
- Team C
- Drop loop (2:1)
- Drop loop + 3:1 = 6:1

2025 Dates

Jan 4-5, 2025

Itinerary

Thursday, Jan 2, 7:00-7:30pm Zoom meeting for trip discussion and questions.
Saturday, Jan 4, 8am meeting at Kaladi Brothers Coffee (6921 Brayton Drive) in Anchorage for glacier lecture and gear set up. Transition to Glen Alps for the day.
Sunday, Jan 5, 9am meeting at Arctic Valley parking lot for the day.

Prerequisites

Advanced downhill ability. You must be able to ski or splitboard black diamond runs at the resort without falling. Being in control is fundamental to reducing risk, group compatibility, group learning, and your learning.
Age 16 or older and with someone who can drive to the field.
Have personal gear ready for field day. See gear list. Snowboarders must have split-boards and skins. Sorry, no snowshoes on this course. Note that you do not need a snow saw, extended column test cord or GPS navigation app for this course.
Fitness for two full days in the mountains, skinning up 500-2,000 vertical feet each day.
Be prepared to remain outside all day in cold and foul weather.
Practice with knots. You will learn more on this course if you have some comfort with knots. Practice these: figure eights, overhands, Munter hitch, prusik hitch, autoblock hitch, and clove hitch. See Animated Knots for help.
Avalanche Rec 1 Course recommended.

Cost

$400 per person

Includes

Two days (16 hours) of instruction.
Professional instructors: AMGA Ski Guide certified and American Avalanche Association Pro 2 certified.
4:1 max student to instructor ratio.
Group gear: ropes, pickets, navigation, first aid, and repair kits, emergency communication, and shelter.

Does Not Include

Lodging, food, and drink.
Transportation to and from the trailhead.
Personal ski mountaineering gear. See gear list.
Rescue and trip insurance (recommended). See Reservation and Insurance Policy for details.