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The San Juan's offer an excellent
learning laboratory for the aspiring alpinist looking to acquire
winter and snow-related alpine climbing skills. Our winter programs
are available from December through April. Wintertime snowpack precludes
us from access to the big "14ers" in the area, however,
there are some excellent smaller peaks that are easily accessible.
Our wintertime alpine programs are mostly skill-based and instructional
in nature. Many students choose to take advantage of the nearby
world-class ice climbing terrain and add a day or two of ice climbing
to their alpine climbing itinerary.
Basic introductory skills include (single-day program):
- Route-finding and terrain recognition
- Self-arrest techniques with the ice axe
- Crampon techniques
- Snow anchors- deadmen, pickets, bollards
- Simulated roped glacier travel
- Simple belays-boot/ice axe, hip, running belays
- Avalanche awareness
We also offer more advanced instruction for the alpinist interested
in a wider variety of alpine skills for larger and more complex
climbing objectives. This is an excellent program for those planning
to climb Mt. Ranier, the Ecuadorian Volcanoes, or other glaciated
peaks.
Advanced skills include (two-day program):
- All of the skills listed in the basic introductory
section
- Crevasse rescue techniques
- Self-rescue skills
- Sophisticated rope management
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