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Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue
Whether you’re looking to summit the local volcanoes of Mount Garibaldi and Mount Baker, or the Bugaboos’ alpine rock splitters - all climbers need the skills to travel over glaciers safely and perform a rescue if your partner ever takes a plunge.
- Location
- Squamish Adventure Centre
- Duration
- 2 Days
- Difficulty
- Introductory / Intermediate
- Guest Ratio
- 4 to 1
$415 per person
Book nowGlacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue Course in Squamish
Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue is a two-day course with an ACMG guide that teaches you to rope up, move safely across a glacier, and pull your partner out if they fall into a crevasse. It costs $415 at 4 students per guide, and suits scramblers, mountaineers and ski tourers who have some mountain experience and know basic climbing knots.
Day 1 starts at the Squamish Adventure Centre with the rope work: the gear you need, 3:1 and 6:1 haul systems, rappelling, climbing a rope, and lowering over a steep edge. On Day 2 we go into glacier terrain to practise route planning, reading the glacier, snow anchors, roping up and travelling as a team. Depending on the group, we access the alpine with either the Whistler Blackcomb lifts or the Sea to Sky Gondola, and the lift pass is extra.
These are the skills for peaks like Mount Garibaldi and Mount Baker, or the approaches to the Bugaboos. For a feel of real glacier camping, read crevasse camping on Garibaldi. Newer to the mountains? Start with Intro Mountaineering.
What does this course cover?
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Part of the Introductory skill set.
- Participants will be immersed into the field for two full days of hard skill training. We’ll cover all the required gear for glacier travel and crevasse rescue, a wide range of glacier travel techniques, glaciology, and how to perform crevasse rescue in various scenarios.
- Understanding Mountain Hazards
- How Crevasses Are Formed
- Glacier Travel
- Short Roping for Glacier Travel
- Pitched Snow Climbing
- Self Arrest
- Crevasse Rescue
Prerequisites
No prerequisites required
Is this course for me?
Although our Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue course is an introductory course, basic scrambling or mountaineering experience is required. Participants must also be able to hike uphill for approximately 3 hours to access glacier terrain.
- Previous Scrambling or Mountaineering Experience
- Understanding of Basic Climbing Knots
- Moderate Fitness (hike uphill for 3 hours)
- Comfortable in Rough and Undulating Terrain
Includes
- 2 full days of instruction with ACMG guide
- All technical equipment (harness, ice axe, helmet and group gear)
Does Not Include
- Food
- Mountaineering boots (available to rent)
- Transportation to and from the meeting point
- Whistler Blackcomb Day Pass or a Sea to Sky Gondola Day Pass- depending on your group.
2027 DATES
Itinerary
Day 1
9 am: Meet at the Squamish Adventure Centre
Practice Crevasse Rescue and Rope Skills
- Understanding the required gear
- Haul:Drop Loop 3:1, 6:1
- Rappel and Rope Climbing
- Lowering/ belay into a steep line or cornice
- Setting up a rappel
Day 2
9 am: Meet & Review Gear
Glacier Travel and Navigation Skills
- Understanding glacier/ alpine environment
- Identifying mountain hazard
- Snow assessments in big or steep terrain
- Assessing glaciers
- Navigation
- Route planning
- Managing cornices
- Snow Anchors
- Roping up for glacier travel
- Risk Assessment
Frequently Asked Questions
Gear List
Boots- sturdy leather or Cordura with lug soles and good ankle support
Crampons*
Ice Axe*
Helmet*- designed for climbing
Harness*- less than 10 years old
Backpack: 30–40L
Hiking Poles (collapsible poles with summer, hiking basket)
Crevasse Rescue Kit:*
• 1 x 1.5m 7mm cord
• 2 x 5m 7mm cord
• 2 x double length sling
• 4 locking carabiners
• 2 non-locking carabiner
• Belay device
• Pulley (optional)
• Ice screw (16cm min)
*We have lots of extra crevasse gear so don’t feel you need to bring all.
Base Layers (thermals: top, bottoms, socks)
Climbing Layers (mid-weight softshell jacket and pants)
Waterproof Shells (pants and jacket)
Insulated Jacket (down or synthetic)
Warm Headwear
Gloves (2 pairs- one lighter weight for climbing and one for colder temps)
Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip protection
Personal first aid, medication
Water Bottle/ Thermos
Food & snacks for each day
Headlamp
Camera
Booking Policy
Please take a moment to read and understand our policies before booking! All the information you need about booking, payment, cancellation and weather policies can be found in our cancellation policy and FAQs.
What experience do I need?
You need some scrambling or mountaineering experience, a basic grasp of climbing knots, and the fitness to hike uphill for about 3 hours on rough terrain. If you’re newer than that, start with Intro Mountaineering.
Is this course useful for ski touring?
Yes. The rope systems and glacier travel skills are the same whether you are on foot or on skis, and they’re what you need before touring on glaciated terrain.
What gear is provided?
We provide the harness, ice axe, helmet and group gear, and we have plenty of spare crevasse rescue gear. Bring mountaineering boots (rentals are available), layers, and food and water for each day.
Will we go on a real glacier?
Yes. Day 2 is spent in glacier terrain, accessed by lift or gondola depending on the group and conditions. The lift pass is not included.
Can I book custom dates?
Yes, custom dates are available for groups at the same $415 per person. Contact us to set it up.
