2011 MOUNTAINEERING LEADERSHIP COURSE

The Alpine Leadership Program of the Denver Group of the Colorado Mountain Club will offer the Mountaineering Leadership Course for summer 2011.

The intent of the program is to help CMC members, who have made a commitment to leading CMC mountaineering trips or instructing in climbing schools, become better, stronger, and safer leaders.  Participant fees are subsidized by Black Diamond and the CMC, so a commitment for a return to the club in volunteer energy will be sought from all members who attend.

The goal of the Mountaineering Leadership Course is to expose current and prospective trip leaders and school instructors to recent advances in mountaineering techniques as practiced by AMGA certified mountain guides.   The focus of the program is to identify, teach, and practice a broad range of hard and soft leadership skills designed to make you a more efficient and safer leader or instructor.

Some of the skills taught include:

• Route planning and selection
• Hazards assessment
• Risk management
• Short roping on snow
• Snow anchoring methods
• Multi-pitch snow climbing
• Snow descent methods
• Short roping on rock
• Terrain belays
• Stance belays
• Alpine anchoring methods
• Fixed line techniques and use

The 2011 course is planned for 6 participants. Members of all CMC Groups are invited to apply. Participants are expected to comfortably lead moderate alpine snow and rock at the 5.4 level or above.

Estimated participant cost is $190, mainly to cover the cost of guide instruction by two AMGA certified mountain guides from ClimbingLife Guides in Estes Park.

Participants must commit to attend all 3 sessions of the course.

The tentative schedule of the 2011 Mountaineering leadership course is:

1.         Saturday, June 5, 2011: Review of basic mountaineering skills

2.         Friday- Sunday, July 8-10, 2011: Instruction by AMGA mountain guides

3.         Saturday-Sunday, July 30-31, 2011: Practice climb

For additional information regarding the course and application forms, please contact:

Jerry Allen, Course Coordinator, jhalle2@msn.com