When: Saturday, March 26, 6:30am
Where: Whitetail Ski Resort

***This event is dependent on cooperation from Whitetail and weather conditions – it may be cancelled at the last minute so please plan accordingly***

EVENT DETAILS:

Snow Skills Day

What:

This will be an opportunity to learn and practice snow skills at the Whitetail Ski Resort after it closes for the season. Whitetail is nearly ideal for basic snow practice, with great spaces for ice axe self arrest work, anchor building, and snow movement.

Signups:

If you sign up please be aware that we will need to arrive together at Whitetail (no straggling in late) to check in and sign their releases and leave together. We will leave the McDonald’s near Clear Spring, MD (quite near Whitetail) no later than 6:30am. If you are not at the Clear Spring, MD McDonald’s at 6:30 you will not be able to enter Whitetail. After meeting at the McDonald’s we will proceed together to Whitetail. We will also leave Whitetail together at the end of the event.

Gear:

Basic equipment for this event will be crampon compatible boots, crampons, and an ice axe (ice tools not necessary). Bring an ice axe if you have it, if you don’t, one will be provided at the event. If you’ll need boots or crampons, please contact the club Gearmeister.

Also bring harness and helmet, lunch, sunscreen, and clothes suitable for a full day on the snow. You will want hard shells for ice axe arrest practice because it will be wet.  You probably don’t want to use your expensive ultralight jacket as late season snow is abrasive.

Plan

Assuming a diverse group and multiple instructors we will break up into two or more groups. Beginners will work first on putting on gear and movement over snow, then move on to self arrest, anchoring, and other skills as time allows. More advanced students will do self arrest first while the snow is still hard, then anchor placement and testing, and finally crevasse rescue. We will have lunch together and probably go over topics like clothing systems and gear selection as a large group.

Crevasse Rescue Practice:

A lot of people come to this event wanting to learn roped glacier movement and crevasse rescue. This is a good location for basic practice. However, a lot of the skill is on arranging ropes and simple haul rigging, things more efficiently taught off the snow. We want to maximize time on the snow doing snow skills practice not learning how to rig a 3:1 haul. So if you sign up looking to do crevasse practice then we expect that you will arrive already knowing the basics, including rigging a Texas prussik for glacer travel or the equivalent and a 3:1 haul or you will attend a hands-on session that will be scheduled prior.

Reminder:

Climbing is a dangerous sport and serious injury may occur. Practicing self arrest with sharp tools and pulling on anchors until they fail is risky in many dimensions.

Please email Joanna with questions about the clinic.