Glacier Ice Climbing at Columbia Icefields

Mountain Skills Program

Custom Outdoor Experience is proud to offer the best mountain skills training in Canada. You will leave this course as a skilled alpinist, rock climber, ice climber, kayaker, and intermediate ski mountaineer. Participants will find that this program will give them a different perspective on life and will leave you with greater confidence in undertaking all of life's challenges.
For those who want to make a carreer in the mountains, this course will jump start the long process of becoming an outdoor leader or mountain guide and will give you the skills you need to begin working in the outdoor industry.

mountaineering and climbing pics from Mountain Skills Course

Why Choose COE's Skills Program?

Unlike other skills course providers we spend the entire four and a half months outside in the mountains. Except for during a few certification courses like 1st Aid and CAA Avalanche Skills Training, you will spend every day pushing your skills under the mentorship of our guides. Our graduates leave the course capable of leading hard pitches on all types of mountain terrain. We will visit a number of locations including a two week rock climbing road trip to the deserts of Nevada and California. How far you want to push your abilities is up to you!

Another unique feature of COE's Mountain Skills Course is that all meals and accomodations are included in the price. Most of the time this means staying at the beautiful Sheiling Mountain Lodge and enjoying delicious home cooked meals. Of course, lots of time will be spent in the backcountry and on road trips as well.

Who Takes COE's Mountain Skills Course?

Past participants have been from a wide variety of backgrounds and from many different places in the world. Ages range from 18 to early 40's. Participants have come from Canada, the UK, Europe, and elsewhere.

The course is perfect for:

Those looking for a lifestyle change.
Those wanting a career change.
Young persons taking a GAP Year.
Travellers who want the ultimate adventure.
Anyone wanting to increase their self confidence.
Professionals taking a year off work.
Highschool grads wanting an alternate form of education.
Those wanting to pursue a career in the outdoors.
Anyone wanting the ultimate adventure skills training!

Rock Climbing on the Mountain Skills Course

Guides

Instruction and guiding will be done by certified ACMG guides whom are expert all round climbers and kayakers. COE's guides have made ascents of many extremely difficult routes throughout North America, South America, and New Zealand. Their ability to climb the biggest and most difficult routes, combined with many years of experience guiding and teaching mountain skills, allows them to confidently lead course outings onto major peaks and climbs.

More about COE Guides.

Certification Courses

The course includes the following courses:

Swiftwater Rescue
CAA Introductory Recreational Avalanche Course
High Angle Rescue
40hr Wilderness First Aid
80hr Wilderness First Aid (Industry Standard for Guiding)

Furthermore, successfull course members should feel prepared to take a number of other courses the following season provided they continue to develop their skills. Such courses may include:

ACMG Top Rope Instructor
Moving Water Kayak Instructor
CAA Advanced Recreational Avalanche Course

Skill Levels to Expect

The goal of the Mountain Skills Course is for all participants to learn the skills needed to safely and confidently undertake major climbs on rock, ice and alpine terrain as well as to develop a proficiency for kayaking in mountain rivers. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses but on average past participants have left the course with the following climbing and kayaking levels:

Rock: Able to lead 5.10 bolted routes, lead 5.8 or 5.9 traditional gear routes, and the skills to do both on multipitch climbs.
Ice: Able to follow WI5+, lead WI4, and complete routes up to 500 meters (or more!) in length. Some mixed climbing skills are also covered.
Alpine: Able to self lead commitment level III alpine routes on rock or glaciated peaks. Able to participate in ascents of grade IV routes.
Kayaking: Able to kayak class IV whitewater.
Backcountry Skiing: Basic ski touring and winter mountain travel skills.

Prerequisites

This is an extremely physically demanding course and therefore a reasonable level of fitness is required. For the safety of all participants, a physical examination by a physician is required in order to register for this course. No previous climbing or kayaking experience is neccessary. A Standard 1st aid course is also recommended but not required.

Sample Agenda

This agenda is highly flexible in order to take maximum advantage of current conditions and weather. Other activities such as caving may be substituted from time to time if weather is terrible.

Ice Climbing on the Mountain Skills Course

Aug 1: Course Introductions, Gear Inspection and Prep, Goal Setting.
Aug 2+3: Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue: Columbia Icefields Area
Aug 4th: Alpine Ropework + Mountain Travel Skills
Aug 5+6: Alpine Rock Ascents: Nordegg or Lake Louise Areas
Aug 7+8: Alpine Ice Ascents: Columbia Icefields Area
Aug 9+10: Rock Climbing: Top Roping & Anchor Building
Aug 11: Off
Aug 12-16: Mountaineering Expedition: Whitegoat Peaks Area
Aug 17: Off
Aug 18: Gear shopping trip to city with one of the guides - if neccessary.
Aug 19-20: Alpine Ascent - Big route in Icefields or Lake Louise Areas
Aug 21+22: Intro to Kayaking
Aug 23+24: Rock Climbing - Learning to Sport Climb
Aug 25-29: 40hr Wilderness 1st Aid.
Aug 30+31: Off
Sep 1-2: Swiftwater Rescue
Sep 3-5: Kayaking: North Saskatchewan River Class 2+3
Sep 6: Off.
Sep 7-9: Rock Climbing: Traditional Gear Climbing
Sep 10-12: Kayaking Road Trip: Red Deer River, Kananaskis - Class 3+.
Sep 13+14: Off.
Sep 14(PM)-19: Rock Climbing Road Trip: Skaha, BC
Sep 20-Oct 3: 80hr Wilderness 1st Aid
Oct 4+5: Rock Climbing: New Route Development, First Ascenting!
Oct 6+7: Off.
Oct 8-10: Kayaking Road Trip - Class 3+4
Oct 11-14: Alpine Ascents: Location depends on conditions.
Oct 15-22: Course Break
Oct 23-27: Alpine Expedition: Location depends on conditions.
Oct 28: Off.
Oct 29+30: High Angle Rescue
Oct 31: Participants Choice
Nov 1: Rest and Pack.
Nov 2-14: Rock Climbing Road Trip: Nevada and California.
Nov 15+16: Off.
Nov 17+18: Ice Climbing Intro.
Nov 19-21: Ice Climbing: Guided Multipitch Ascents WI 4-5.
Nov 22: Off.
Nov 23-25: Ice Climbing: Leading.
Nov 26-27: Ice Climbing: Student Lead Multipitch WI 2-4.
Nov 28+30: Ice Climbing: Guided Multipitch Ascent WI 5-6.
Dec 1+2: Off
Dec 3-5: Backcountry Skiing Intro: Parkers Ridge + Bow Summit.
Dec 6-7: CAA Introductory Recreational Avalanche Course.
Dec 8+9: Ice Climbing: Multipitch Ascents, BIG LINES! (Polar Circus, Upper Weeping Wall, etc.)
Dec 10: Off.
Dec 11-14: Ski Tour: Columbia or Wapta Icefields, Igloo based.
Dec 15: Ice Climbing: More BIG LINES!
Dec 16: Course close and party.

Kayaking on Mountain Skills Course

Equipment

All technical equipment is provided by the COE. However, past participants have found it nicer to have much of their own personal gear such as harnesses and helmets. Our guides are more than happy to answer questions and make recommendations regarding equipment before and during the program, it is important that you are outfitted appropriately.

Required Gear

Clothing

Light Hikers/Approach shoes - A decent pair of light comfortable boots for daily use.
Waterproof Breathables - Gore-tex or equivalant Jacket and Pants. Bib pants are worth the extra money.
Underlayers - Polyester longjohns(1) and tops(at least 2).
Warm Layers - Fleece sweaters, 1 light, 1 heavy.
Pants - 1pr light nylon, 1pr warm(Sheoller or midweight fleece).
Socks - Many pairs of synthetic or wool hiking socks.
Gloves - 1pr light fleece, 1pr midweight (insulated leather work gloves with a stretch cuff work excellent) , 1pr heavy ice climbing gloves.
Mitts - 1pr Goretex or equivalant overmitts.
Balaclava - fleece.
Toque - warm fleece or wool toque.
Gaitors - Goretex or equivalant.

Technical Gear

Alpine/Ice Boots - A good pair of leather Alpine and Ice Climbing Boots are absolutely required. These should be all leather, have a full shank and cost $300 to $450. The best brand is the one that fits best. This is NOT an item to try and cheap out on.
Rock Shoes - should be snug fitting but not toe crippling.
Water Booties - any type without laces will do.
Expedition Pack - 70L or greater expedition backpack.
Day Pack - 30L or so pack for daily use, must have ice axe attachments.
Sleeping Bag - Synthetic or Down, rated to at least -12C.
Sleeping Pad - Thermarest or Foam Pad.
Headlamp - Petzl LED headlamps are the best.
Waterbottles - 2, 1L Nalgenes.
Sunglasses - A descent pair that blocks all UV.

Recommended Gear

Although the following are not absolutely required, you will find that they will increase your comfort during the course. If you intend to continue on this path, it is worth making the extra investment now.

Dry Top - makes kayaking far far warmer.
Personal Rock Climbing Gear - helmet, harness, locking biners + belay device.
Down Jacket - highly recommended for ice and alpine climbing.
Ski Goggles.
Running Shoes.
Sandals.
Camera.
Books, music, etc. - there will not be many opportunities to go shopping.

Feel free to bring any other outdoor clothing or equipment that you own.

Dates 2009

August 1st - December 16

Cost
$15000 CDN + GST
This includes:

All accomodations
All meals
Instruction
Technical Climbing Gear
Transportation
Road Trips
Certification Courses
Book: Mountaineering, Freedom of the Hills

Sign Me Up!
Please contact us for a registration package. This includes a registration form, a physical examination form and a Waiver form. A deposit of $1500 is also required.
Please feel free to contact us to discuss any aspect of this program.
If you already have 40hr or 80hr Wilderness 1st Aid, the price will be adjusted accordingly and days off or volunteer experience will be subsituted during these courses.

<--Back to COE.CA
For more information about our programs please contact us:
COE, General Delivery, Nordegg, AB, T0M 2H0
Phone: (403) 721-2208 Fax: 1-888-314-3690 E-mail:info@coe.ca

Aug 1:	Course Introductions, Gear Inspection and Prep, Goal Setting.
Aug 2+3:	Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue: Columbia Icefields Area
Aug 4th:	Alpine Ropework + Mountain Travel Skills
Aug 5+6:	Alpine Rock Ascents: Nordegg or Lake Louise Areas
Aug 7+8:	Alpine Ice Ascents: Columbia Icefields Area
Aug 9+10:	Rock Climbing: Top Roping & Anchor Building
Aug 11:	Off
Aug 12-16:	Mountaineering Expedition: Whitegoat Peaks Area
Aug 17:	Off
Aug 18:	Gear shopping trip to city with one of the guides - if neccessary.
Aug 19-20:	Alpine Ascent - Big route in Icefields or Lake Louise Areas
Aug 21+22:	Intro to Kayaking
Aug 23+24:	Rock Climbing - Learning to Sport Climb
Aug 25-29:	40hr Wilderness 1st Aid.
Aug 30+31:	Off
Sep 1-2:	Swiftwater Rescue
Sep 3-5:	Kayaking: North Saskatchewan River Class 2+3
Sep 6:	Off.
Sep 7-9:	Rock Climbing: Traditional Gear Climbing
Sep 10-12:	Kayaking Road Trip: Red Deer River, Kananaskis - Class 3+.
Sep 13+14:	Off.
Sep 14(PM)-19:	Rock Climbing Road Trip: Skaha, BC
Sep 20-Oct 3:	80hr Wilderness 1st Aid
Oct 4+5:	Rock Climbing: New Route Development, First Ascenting!
Oct 6+7:	Off.
Oct 8-10:	Kayaking Road Trip - Class 3+4
Oct 11-14:	Alpine Ascents: Location depends on conditions.
Oct 15-22:	Course Break
Oct 23-27:	Alpine Expedition: Location depends on conditions.
Oct 28:	Off.
Oct 29+30:	High Angle Rescue
Oct 31:	Participants Choice
Nov 1:	Rest and Pack.
Nov 2-14:	Rock Climbing Road Trip: Nevada and California.
Nov 15+16:	Off.
Nov 17+18:	Ice Climbing Intro.
Nov 19-21:	Ice Climbing: Guided Multipitch Ascents WI 4-5.
Nov 22:	Off.
Nov 23-25:	Ice Climbing: Leading.
Nov 26-27:	Ice Climbing: Student Lead Multipitch WI 2-4.
Nov 28+30:	Ice Climbing: Guided Multipitch Ascent WI 5-6.
Dec 1+2:	Off
Dec 3-5:	Backcountry Skiing Intro: Parkers Ridge + Bow Summit.
Dec 6-7:	CAA Introductory Recreational Avalanche Course.
Dec 8+9:	Ice Climbing: Multipitch Ascents, BIG LINES! (Polar Circus, Upper Weeping Wall, etc.)
Dec 10:	Off.
Dec 11-14:	Ski Tour: Columbia or Wapta Icefields, Igloo based.
Dec 15:	Ice Climbing: More BIG LINES!
Dec 16:	Course close and party.