To Infinity and Beyond is the next step after The Ultimate Everything Course. It's designed for skiers and splitboarders that want to take their decision making to the next level.
Location - Icefall Lodge
Icefall Lodge is a remote heli-accessed lodge on the West slopes of the Rocky Mountains, where the snowpack is deep like the Columbia Mountains. It has arguably the most spectacular terrain of any lodge in BC, with big peaks and glaciers.
Once we arrive, there will be 7 days with no driving, no valley bottom slogs, no tracks, and amazing food prepared by a professional.
It only takes about an hour to reach the closest glacier, so we have lots of time to practice travel and rescue.
Aprés - "Digging Pits" slideshow and trip planning session
Day 2-3:
Students collaborating to plan and lead full day ski tours
Aprés - Trip planning
Day 4:
Am - Indoor session on lightweight rope kits
Pm - Crevasse rescue practice on a glacier
Aprés - Trip planning
Day 5-7:
Students collaborating to plan and lead full day ski tours
Aprés - Trip planning
Day 8:
Fly home from the lodge.
The weather, conditions and group ability will determine the ratio of glacier/tree skiing. If it's a sunny week, expect to spend most of the time in the alpine on glaciers. If it's stormy, we'll probably spend most of the time in the trees avoiding avalanches. Please note we may alter the itinerary to suit the weather and conditions.
Espresso Shots at Icefall Lodge
Prerequisites - TIAB
Over 19 years old or accompanied by a parent.
Strong ski/snowboard skills to manage navigating crevasses and steep trees.
Good fitness to skin 1500 m vertical per day
At least 60 days experience ski touring
At least 10 days experience traveling on glaciers (summer or winter)
Please make sure you have read through the booking conditionsbefore making a payment. This includes completing the Waiver and Registration Form. If the course is already full, please complete the Registration Form to join the waitlist.
E-Transfer to gearysguiding@gmail.com is the preferred method of payment. Please contact us for alternate payment methods.
Included
Accommodation and food/cook
Return Helicopter flight
7 days of guiding/instruction at 6:1 ratio with ACMG Ski/Mountain Guides
Paper run map
Excluded
Travel to and from the staging area
Personal glacier travel equipment and ropes
Front country accommodation (Eg. Golden/Revelstoke)
Lunch on day 1
Extra expenses incurred due to dietary requirements (please contact us well in advance to check these can be accommodated)
Equipment list - TIAB
Shovel
Probe
Transceiver (3-antenna)
Ski touring skis or splitboard
Skins
Personal repair kit specific to your equipment
Ski touring boots/snowboarding boots
Ski poles
Headlamp
Goggles
Sunglasses
Personal first aid supplies including blister kit
Toque
Minimum 1L water bottle or Thermos (no water bladders as they freeze or leak in the cold)
Gore-tex (or equivalent) jacket
Gore-tex (or equivalent) pants
Puffy jacket
Warm layers for upper and lower body adequate for below freezing temperatures and wind
Thick gloves
Spare gloves
Lightweight harness (if possible otherwise climbing harness will work)
3 locking carabiners
4 non-locking carabiners
240cm sewn sling (or 5m of webbing)
5m x 6mm accessory cord
Personal prussik (1.8-2m of 6mm accessory cord works well, or a hollow block or another specifically designed cord)
Micro-traxion or Nano-traxion (optional)
Tibloc (optional)
Ice screw (between 12-22cm)
Rope you normally use for glacier travel, or a lightweight rope such as Petzl Rad Line (ropes can be shared between participants)
30-40L backpack
Indoor clothes
Lunch for day 1
Ski crampons
If you want to borrow any of the technical equipment above, please contact us in advance to see if we have the items available (eg. ice screw)
Snow profile
If you're not quite ready for this course, check out The Ultimate Everything Course to build up your skills and experience.
