Crevasse Rescue Course.
On Saturday a group of ten long time local skiers got together with the Coast Mountain Guides Bureau to learn about glacier safety and crevasse rescue.
Our first part of the day was spent learning what equipment/tools are necessary to carry when travelling in the backcountry and some basics regarding how a glacier moves and what signs to be on the look out for when alpine touring.
Here, Guillaume Otis, one of our guides shows us a diagram of a ski anchor system used to save someone who’s fallen inside a crevasse.
Next we all headed up Blackcomb Mountain to the Rendezvous Restaraunt where we watched a demonstration on how to to properly set up a C haul system to rescue a crevasse victim.
Here’s Kye making a chest and leg harness out of a piece of webbing. This is super important to know in case the person you’re saving isn’t wearing a harness.
Two of our three guides, Guillaume from Canada and Christoff from Chamonix, France.
Local ripper and the only snowboarder in the course, Geoff Bate listens as Christoff shows us some knot tying.
Andrew Bradley, roped in.
The third, and most fun part of our course was when we headed into the field to put our knowledge to the test. Here’s the crew at the top of the Blow Hole on Blackcomb Glacier. Time to see how well everyone was paying attention.
Guillaume waist deep in his ski anchor hole.
Matty Richard showing us his prussik.
Thanks to Guillaume, Alex and Christoff for passing along important parts of their extensive knowledge to the rest of us. Look forward to our next course together! If anyone is interested in getting a group together to take a specialized backcountry ski/snowboard course visit The Nordic Shop located next to Buffalo BIlls in Whistler Village. Backcountry safety procedures are super important for anyone wanting to take the next step in enjoying the alpine and exploring further from their resort.
