Ski Mountaineering rope Work Primer

Evening Ground School 6-8pm

Fall ’23 schedule 

Monday, November 13 – Boulder CO

Tuesday November 14 – Broomfield CO

Program Basics

Come out for an evening discussion of theory, gear selection and some introductions to simple technical systems.
Interested in getting into Ski Mountaineering or brining your ski touring into more advanced terrain?  Get ready for the winter season with a primer session
In skiing the whole point of rope is to use it as little as possible so you can ski as much as possible.  But ropes are tricky to use and if you don’t have a background in climbing it’s really hard to be efficient and effective.  It’s more than just tying knots and rigging rappels but things like how to stow and coil ropes without them getting tangled is always under appreciated.
In addition to introducing some techniques a big part of the ground school offering is to help get a sense of the the big picture and all the skill sets that are part of being successful in ski mountaineering.  I hope you will come away with a bette idea of how to make a good plan and some realistic timeframes to meet your goals.

Technical Skills

We will cover a variety of ropework and climbing skills.

Itinerary
  • Introductions/Teamwork in the Mountains
  • Overview of Ski Mountaineering Theory
  • Discussion of Equipment Selection
  • Introduction to Basic Technical Systems
  • Practice with Technical Skills
Gear

Please bring with as much of the following list as possible.  No problem if you dont have anything I will bring extras and we will spend some time discussing equipment selection as well if you are looking to acquire new gear.

  • Harness
  • 3 HMS Locking Carabiners
  • Double length sling
  • ATC
  • Prussic Loop
  • Ski Mountaineering Backpack
Prerequisite Skills

While these are not required it will improve learning outcomes to arrive knowing how to tie:

  • Overhand on a bight
  • Clove hitch
  • Munter hitch
  • ‘Autoblock’ friction hitch

 

    Logistics

    Logistics
    This session will run from 6:00pm to 8:30pm.  We will be outside at a park in Boulder so please plan accordingly.  It gets chilly and dark in the evenings so please bring the appropriate warm clothing and a headlamp.  We will have some other lights but more is always nice.
     
    Cost
    These sessions cost $50 per person.

    Interested?

    Please drop me a line with the contact form.  I can give you some more information and we can talk about if this program is a right fit for your goals.

    For course dates and locations in the Winter 2022/23 programs tab.