Glacier Module Overview

Leading glacier and alpine climbs requires some scrambling and minimal rock leading skills. In the past these skills were acquired incidentally during an intermediate course that combined glacier and rock training into a single course. Modularization requires adding a day of scramble/easy rock lead training so that glacier/alpine module graduates can competently lead routes that include sections of 3rd to 4th class rock.

The glacier/alpine module also includes a weekend of alpine ice training. Although this training is not required to serve as a rope leader on basic glacier and alpine climbs, it may be required on some intermediate alpine and glacier climbs and it is certainly required on all intermediate ice climbs.

The goals of the glacier/alpine module include developing sufficient skill to serve as a rope leader on Basic glacier climbs and sufficient skill to swing leads on intermediate glacier, mountaineering and ice climbs.

Recommended Reference Books:

Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills (9th Ed), Part IV & Part V. (aka FOTH)
Houston, M & Cosley, C. Alpine Climbing: Skills to Take You Higher, 2004. Seattle: Mountaineers Books (aka H&C)
Gadd, W. Ice & Mixed Climbing: Modern Technique, 2004. Seattle: Mountaineers Books. (aka Gadd)