Itinerary
Advanced Mountain Rescue Itinerary
Please keep in mind that this is a standard, yet loose, itinerary. It is subject to change depending on conditions, weather, group dynamics, pace, and learning strategies.
Program Details
The Advanced Mountain Rescue program at American Alpine Institute builds on foundational rescue skills to prepare experienced rescuers for complex operations in challenging mountain environments. Through hands-on training, participants develop advanced technical rope rescue skills, refine systems management and problem-solving abilities, and practice the decision-making required for effective mountain rescue operations. The program is designed for professional rescuers and team members looking to expand their technical capabilities and apply them in demanding alpine terrain.
Itinerary
Day 1
Students will travel to Bellingham, Washington, where they will meet at the American Alpine Institute at 8:00 a.m.
- Classroom Session: The team will go over several topics including the strength of snow and ice anchors, bolts, two tensioned systems, plaquette systems, the diminishing loop, and the San Juan Pickoff.
Day 2
- Field Session: If the team decides to go into the backcountry, they will drive approximately 1 hour to the trailhead. From there, we will hike approximately 3 miles to a camp at 6,000 feet. Programs in the spring may go to the Mt. Baker Ski area parking lot instead of the backcountry. It will be a review of snow school techniques and snow anchors, introduction to steep angle litter haul and lower with attendants, backcountry patient packaging. If the conditions are not right, this day may be switched with Day 5.
Day 3
- Field Session: Crevasse rescue comprehensive – in-depth study of team rescue as well as self-rescue in a crevasse fall scenario; instruction will include descending into the crevasse to perform first aid on the client before hauling him out; systems will include the drop C, 3:1, and 6:1 crevasse rescue hauling systems
Day 4
- Field Session: The team will work on managing a litter on low-angle snow terrain. Develop techniques to manage litter through a crevasse field and an icefall. Once this is complete, the team will hike out.
Day 5
This day may be interchangeable with Day 2 depending on weather.
- Classroom Session: Discuss a high-end scenario. This scenario will have a pickoff and will require lowering and hauling systems in complex terrain.
- Field Session: Execute a difficult rescue.
Weather Options
The Cascades are a wet range, and a rescue team has to be prepared for wet conditions. However, sometimes rain and snow is a hindrance to the learning environment. This is especially true if everyone is cold and wet while trying to understand complex concepts. As such, this course has some poor weather options that will still provide participants with significant advanced-level experiences.
Note on Lodging
As this program may have up to 3 days in the backcountry, it’s important that your lodging is flexible. We will determine how many days we will go into the backcountry on the first day of Advanced Mountain Rescue so that you are able to make plans. Due to the significant snowfall in the Cascade Range, it is common for the Advanced Mountain Rescue portion of the program to avoid going up onto the flanks of Mount Baker in the Spring. This is because it requires significant road walking. As such, the team commonly does many of the Advanced Mountain Rescue techniques on Spring programs near the Mt. Baker Ski area, commonly as day trips. For summer and fall programs, the team will hike up onto the flanks of Mt. Baker.