Camp Highlights

  • Learn crevasse rescue techniques with ACMG guide Kirsten Knechtel
  • Feel at ease is an all female setting
  • Two field days to get you outside and practicing
  • COVID regulations in place

Dates & price

    Course dates

    •  August 8-9, 2020 (1 spot left)
    • $350 per person

REGISTER

 

Learn the Skills Needed to Travel Across Glaciers Safely and Independently

Whether it's upcoming ski or summer mountaineering missions, now is the perfect time to update and refresh those vital crevasse rescue skills. Who better do it with than Canada's national mountaineering organization?

Our all female summer crevasse rescue course is led by our highly experienced  Guide, Kirsten Knechtel. Kirsten has been guiding trips for the Alpine Club for a long time and we love having her lead our female camps. This camp will allow you to feel more comfortable heading out on the glacier to access the areas that are out of reach for many people without these skills.

Skills you'll learn on this course include:

-       Climbing knots (figure 8, overhand, prusik, clove hitch, Italian hitch, Italian hitch tie-off, double-fishermans, girth hitch)

-       Ascending & descending the rope in an emergency

-       Glacier travel basics (where & why crevasses form)

-       Guidelines on when to travel roped or unroped winter and summer

-       Building snow and ice anchors

-       Setting the rope up for glacier travel

-       Arresting a crevasse fall

-       Crevasse Rescue- learn and practise the steps

-       Special scenarios: 2-person rescue, unroped fall into a crevasse, adding more

             mechanical advantage

-       Use of specific equipment you might carry (eg.pulleys, micro-traction, Tibloc, ready-built systems)

This course will include two field days to maximize hands on practice and visit different areas.
Camp Objectives

Skills you'll learn on this course include:

-       Climbing knots (figure 8, overhand, prusik, clove hitch, Italian hitch, Italian hitch tie-off, double-fishermans, girth hitch)

-       Ascending & descending the rope in an emergency

-       Glacier travel basics (where & why crevasses form)

-       Guidelines on when to travel roped or unroped winter and summer

-       Building snow and ice anchors

-       Setting the rope up for glacier travel

-       Arresting a crevasse fall

-       Crevasse Rescue- learn and practise the steps

-       Special scenarios: 2-person rescue, unroped fall into a crevasse, adding more

             mechanical advantage

-       Use of specific equipment you might carry (eg.pulleys, micro-traction, Tibloc, ready-built systems)


Day by Day Adventure Itinerary 
  •  
  • Day 1
  • The first day will be taught at Rundle Rock in Banff. We will meet here at 8am. You’ll review essential climbing knots, how to descend and ascend a rope, and learn how to set up a hauling system. 

  • Your guide will also discuss the use of commercially-available crevasse rescue equipment (pulleys and ready-made systems) and provide opportunity to practice with these.

  • You will also cover glacier travel basics, roped and unroped, and preview the different steps to a crevasse rescue.

Day 2 

  • Day two the group will switch to ice. Meeting place and time to be discussed on day 1 of the course. The second field day will let you practice your new skills in a realistic outdoor environment. The group will practice arresting a fall, transferring the load to an anchor, and going through the steps for the rest of a rescue. 
  • You’ll also get a chance to practice advanced crevasse rescue scenarios, including a 2-person rescue and an unroped fall into a crevasse. 
Is this Camp For Me?
Intermediate

This camp is designed for participants that have some previous mountaineering or skiing experience and are looking to expand their terrain choices. 

Food, Accommodation and Guiding

Food

Food is not provided as part of the course. Please bring along a packed lunch and some snacks for both days.

Accommodation
Accommodation is not included but a list of open accommodations in Canmore will be sent out prior to the start of the course.
 
Guiding

The guide for this course is ACMG Mountain Guide Kirsten Knechtel and we will be operating on a max ratio of 6:1 participants to guide.

  • “As women working together, sharing our strength and wisdom, we were able to reach both collective and personal goals, in the true spirit of mountaineering. The camp exceeded my expectations. ”
- Past Women's Climbing Camp with Kirsten KnechtelParticipant -

Adventure Map

more information

  Email us
   403 678 3200 ext. 213
  Gear list
COVID Protocols for Camp

Organizing Fantastic ACC Adventures For Over 100 Years

  • Local Knowledge - based out of Canmore, AB, we know the Rockies region and the best local caterers, guides and porters
  • Dedicated resources - full-time office staff, ACMG guides and group equipment on-hand to ensure your trip runs smoothly
  • Not-for-profit - any money we make on camps and courses is reinvested into providing services for our members and the mountain community

Cancellation policy and travel Insurance

Please be sure to review our cancellation policy before registering for ACC Adventures:
 
Cancellation Policy
We sell Tugo® Travel Insurance suitable for both ACC Adventures and personal trips: 

Travel Insurance

Included WITH YOUR CAMP FEE

  • 2 days instruction by ACMG certified guides at a maximum ratio of 8:1
  • Group gear including ropes, first aid equipment etc.

Participants Must Provide

  • Transportation
  • Accommodation
  • Lunches
  • Personal gear (see gear list)

Your Guides

Kirsten Knechtel

Kirsten was raised in Banff, AB where her passion for the mountains and mountain adventure began. Kirsten’s family were outdoor enthusiasts and by the age of 6 she began ski racing, age 10 ski touring, and by age 14 she had climbed many classic alpine routes in the Canadian Rockies. Her career as a guide was a natural step. By age 25 she was a fully certified mountain guide. Now 20 plus years later, Kirsten has a huge variety of guiding experiences behind her.She has worked as a manager of a catskiing operation, guided many heliskiing, catskiing and private ski touring trips and worked as an instructor on the ACMG guides training program. In the summer she has worked with the British military training, run her own private guiding business and spent well over 10 years working at the Alpine Club’s General Mountaineering Camp, Marmot Women’s camps and other ACC programs.