Crevasse Rescue – Fernie

This course will teach you the skills you need to haul a person out of a crevasse, as well as how to climb out of a crevasse on a rope.

About the Course

This course will teach you the skills you need to haul a person out of a crevasse, as well as how to climb out of a crevasse on a rope. This includes snow anchor construction, haul systems with varying levels of mechanical advantage, and at least two different rope ascension techniques. Taught by ACMG guides who are up-to-date with the latest and greatest rescue systems and gear knowledge. Custom glacier trips to Roger’s Pass or Columbia Icefields can be arranged.

$169 with max of 4 participants to each guide.

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our Instructors and Guides

The Mountain Addicts team is obsessed with safety. All of our guides are members of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG). The ACMG is the only internationally recognized professional association of trained and certified mountain guides and instructors in Canada. Our guides come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and Mountain Addicts will find your perfect match.

Mel Makepeace

Ski Guide & Owner

Mel is the owner of Mountain Addicts, an ACMG Ski Guide and Professional Member of the Canadian Avalanche Association. She began her career as a ski patroller in 2008 and now travels the world ski touring and heli-ski guiding. Mel particularly loves facilitating mountain travel confidence in women.

Corin Lohmann

ACMG Ski Guide

Corin loves sharing the mountain experience and the connections that are made while learning and exploring in the backcountry. Since 2011, Corin has been guiding ski trips in the mountains of Western Canada. He lives in Fernie with his family and spends his summers running icewalks.com ; a glacier guiding business in Jasper National Park.

More Info

Ability to travel in the winter backcountry

Equipment List

Please bring the following items with you to the course:

Lift ticket and downhill riding equipment may be required depending on field day location ($25 single-ride tickets available from Mountain Addicts)
Lunch & Snacks: Bring a variety of small snacks to eat on-the-go, such as bars, jerky, cheese, as well as a sandwich is recommended. We don’t often have the time/weather for a lengthy sit-down lunch
Water/Tea: A warm thermos of tea/hot chocolate as well as 1L of water, hydration packs are not recommended due to cold freezing the tube

Skis: ‘Alpine Touring with touring bindings’ or ‘Telemark’. Please practice transitioning your bindings from ski-mode to walk-mode and back again. Mel Makepeace loves the Icelantic Nomad Lite for ski touring performance

Split Board: with split board skins. Please practice transitions from touring mode to riding mode at home before the field day

Ski Poles: recommended for all modes of travel
Climbing Skins ‘Stick-on type’ (only required if using skis or split boards)
Boots: we won’t be using our skis/boards for travel, only for building anchors, so please wear very warm winter boots
Harness: a lightweight climbing-type harness with gear loops that can be put on over-top of your boots and outerwear
2 , 5m x 6mm cordalette
2 locking carabiners
2 non-locking carabiners
Day Pack: large enough for spare clothes, lunch. 30 liter minimum size recommended
Sunglasses and/or Ski Goggles: we recommend both as high output activities will fog up your goggles. Goggles with multiple lenses are especially handy; XSPEX Goggles “Chaos”
Sunscreen

Optional Equipment: Not essential, but feel free to bring

Chemical hand warmers& toe warmers packs
Field Book & Pencil
Compass, Inclinometer
Ice-screw
Selection of slings
Pulley
Micro traxion
Tibloc
Hollow bloc

Mountain Addicts has some gear available for rent, or check out the local ski shops.

Field Day Clothing

During the field day there can be longer periods of inactivity in cold temperatures. To maximize your learning experience, be sure to bring lots of extra clothing so that you can focus on the course and not the cold. Bring clothing of varying thicknesses that can be ‘layered’ to achieve comfort and versatility. Cotton clothing is not appropriate as it causes rapid heat loss when wet. You may have heard the expression “Cotton Kills”.

Below is a recommended clothing list:

Base Layers (top and bottom): Wool or synthetic materials preferred, such as Rab® Forge Leggings and Top
Water Resistant Jacket: A quality hardshell for staying dry when it’s dumping is an essential piece of ski touring kit. Our guide’s use the Rab® Khroma Kinetic Jacket.
Water Resistant Ski Pants: Waterproof pants help keep you warm in the powder. Pants with ventilation that you can open and close are ideal. Check out the Rab® Khroma Kinetic Pants.
Warm Mid-Layer Shirt, Sweater, or Fleece such as the Rab ® Alpha Flash Jacket.
Insulated Jacket or Vest: A feather down or Primaloft™ insulated jacket is essential for staying warm while taking breaks or when the weather gets really cold. Don’t be afraid to double down! The Mountain Addicts love the Rab ® Neutrino Pro Jacket.
Socks: wool or synthetic, no cotton.
Wool or Fleece Hat that covers the ears.
Buff: great for protecting your face in cold and windy conditions. Mountain Addicts have buffs for sale.
2 Pair of Gloves: we always recommend ski touring with at least 2 pair of gloves. One pair for sweating in, and another pair for keeping your hands dry and warm. Check out these options: Rab ® Pivot GTX Glove and Rab ® Khroma Tour Infinium Gloves.
Ski Helmet: recommended for skiers and riders. We love Pret helmets!

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