Upcoming Snow Instruction Saturday March 22

For the past 1o years, after the Whitetail Ski Area closes for the season,  the club has held an introductory snow clinic on the ski field for club members with little or no experience on snow. This year the clinic will be Saturday March 22 and will be run by Neil Arsenault. Neil can be reached at [email protected]

We will cover ice axe use, movement on snow – roped and unroped, self arrest, glissade, snow anchors.

Clinic is for a maximum of 20 participants; this is dependent on sufficient instructors. So if you are reading this, have snow experience and can assist Neil please let him know asap.

If you register please answer the [optional] questions.

What to Bring

This is not ice climbing. Do not bring ice tools.

You do need is a helmet & harness, belay device plus locking carabiner, boots and crampons. Hiking boots, mountaineering boots, or even technical ice boots are ok.  Same with crampons – any style as long as they fit your boots.

You will need a real ice axe – 60cm minimum length – longer is preferable. Neil can make available around half a dozen axes of various lengths so contact him BEFORE the clinic if you want to use one of his axes.

Bring snacks / lunch and dress appropriately for a full day outside. Bring gloves. 
We will also need 4-5 ropes so if you can bring one let Neil know.

Clinic Details

Meet at McDonalds in Clear Spring, Md, just off I-70, seven miles from Whitetail.  This opens at 5am – breakfast and bathroom- with lots of parking in back. We will leave to caravan to Whitetail by 5:45 am.

Carpooling from DC will be arranged for those interested  once registrations are complete.

Please cancel your registration if you are no longer able to attend  so that someone else can have your spot. If you can’t make it the morning of the event, give the trip leader a courtesy message so no one is waiting for you in the parking lot.

If you do not contact the trip organiser, this counts as a no-show. If you no show once, you will get an email from the Chair. If you do not show up twice, you will not be allowed to sign up for another event for 3 months. If you continue to not show up, your membership will be cancelled and refunded.

Please note that this is not a guided event and none of our trip leaders are professional guides. Climbing is an inherently dangerous sport and you do so at your own risk. You are responsible for yourself and your own safety at all times.

  • Snow Instruction
     March 22, 2025
     5:00 am - 5:00 pm