HIGH ALPINE BASIC
ORTOVOX SAFETY ACADEMY
3 days
Südtirolalpin
Certified Mountain Guide
IFMGA - Mountain Guides Associations
Mail suedtirolalpin@gmail.com
Prices from
450,- €
ABOUT THE TRAINING
With the Ortovox Safety Academy High Alpine Basic mountaineering course, you will get to know the world of glaciers from the ground up – with rope, crampons, and a healthy amount of hands-on practice.
3 days
High alpine tours are the supreme discipline of classic alpinism. This is where all ropework and safety techniques come together. Experience the world of glaciers with our Ortovox Safety Academy high alpine course – in cooperation with Ortovox! Our comprehensive training gives you the tools to move safely and successfully in the alpine environment. Careful planning and preparation are essential in order to quickly recognise and avoid potential alpine hazards. We place special emphasis on selecting and safely handling your equipment, including important knotcraft that will support you in a wide range of situations. We teach you not only the safe use of rope, ice axe, and crampons, but also how to move and navigate independently and safely on glaciers. Of course, rescue techniques are also covered, and you will learn how to free yourself or your rope team partners from a crevasse after a crevasse fall. After the course, you will have the tools to set out independently and with confidence into the fascinating world of glacier tours.
TRAINING CONTENT
✧ Alpine hazards & weather knowledge
✧ Equipment, gear & knotcraft
✧ Introduction to tour planning and preparation
✧ Navigation on tour
✧ Independent travel on glaciers as a rope team
✧ Moving with rope, ice axe & crampons
✧ French technique & front-pointing technique
✧ Belay anchor construction in firn & ice
✧ Crevasse rescue by means of self-rescue
✧ Crevasse rescue using a drop loop
✧ Crevasse rescue using a pulley system
✧ Falling techniques and arresting falls
✧ Environmental aspects and the rapid changes on glaciers
✧ Practice tour
INFO
Services
Included in the price
- Entire organization and guidance by a state-certified mountain guide
- All necessary reservations are made in advance
Additional costs
- 2 overnight stays with half board in a hut (mountain guide fees are split among all participants)
- Transfer to and from the meeting point
- Individual tips
* Rental equipment (€10 per piece of equipment)
Facts
Location
South Tyrol
Best time of year
June - September
Duration
3 days
Meeting point
is agreed individually
Requirements
Prior knowledge
- none, we will get to know the world of high-altitude tours from the ground up
Physical requirements
- Fitness for mountain tours with elevation gains of up to 1,500 meters
- Surefootedness
PRICING
Participants
5 - 6 people
Prices
1 - 4 people:
5 people or more:
upon request
450,- €
If you have any questions or need further information, please write them in the comment field of the inquiry form.
Before submitting your request: Please read the "important information" about risks in mountaineering carefully.
Dates
upon request
PROGRAM
Day 1: Approach to the hut and fundamentals
We meet at the agreed meeting point and carry out a short equipment check at the starting point of our glacier course before beginning the ascent to the hut. In the afternoon, we will take a look at the equipment used on glacier tours as well as the basics of travelling on glaciers. We will also bring all participants up to date on knots, learning and practising the knots required for the upcoming course content. In the hut, we will work on map reading and learn how to navigate in the mountains. We will also touch on environmental influences as well as the consequences of climate change and the rapid changes taking place on glaciers.
Day 2: Training on the glacier
On the second day, we head onto the glacier. Through various exercises and techniques, we will refine the participants’ crampon technique. We learn how to move with crampons and ice axe on hard ground and what options there are for travelling safely on ice. Falling also needs to be practised so that you can react correctly in an emergency. What do you do if you slip yourself, and how do you brake and stop again? What happens if a member of the rope team falls? We will also practise the different rescue methods and set them up in practice at a crevasse. This is where the knots we practised the day before come into play. In the evening, we turn to the topic of tour planning. The participants’ task afterwards will be to plan and prepare a joint final tour for the last day. Especially on this day, we will vary the content depending on the participants’ level of knowledge and, if necessary, focus on the most important aspects – it is better to learn the fundamentals properly than to cram too much into one day.
Day 3: Practice tour
The final day is all about the tour planned the evening before. All learning content will come together on this day, and we will put everything we have learned into practice to reach the summit safely and return to the car park. As course participants, you will be challenged – we as mountain guides will of course be at your side at all times with advice and valuable tips, and we will step in if something is assessed incorrectly.
Info: The programme is not set in stone. In the mountains, we have to adapt to the conditions on site as well as the weather. That is why we will move content around if needed, adapt it to the participants’ level of knowledge, and make the most of these 3 days, even if the weather does not play along for once! =)
Any changes to the program that may be necessary for various reasons (weather, conditions, accommodation booking situation, etc.) will always be made in consultation with the participants.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - (FAQs)
Who is the High Alpine Basic course for?
The course is aimed at beginners who want to properly learn glacier travel and the fundamentals of high alpine tours. If you want to understand the use of rope, ice axe, and crampons from the ground up, this is the right place for you.
What equipment do I need for the course?
You will receive the exact packing list with the confirmation email. Most important are suitable mountain boots and weatherproof clothing. Technical equipment can be hired from the organiser for a small wear-and-tear fee.
Will there be a real tour on the last day?
Yes, the final day includes a joint practice tour. During it, you will put the course content directly into practice – from tour planning to movement in the terrain. Which exact tour is done depends on the conditions and the group.
