The Snow Skills at Robert Lodge trip has been postponed from Jul y to August to provide better snow skills training snow conditions. There i s an additional charge of $20 for the lodge ($15 for children); $40/35 all up for those from Nelson/Richmond.
Objectives: 1) learn/enha nce snow skills and knowledge; 2) have fun! Read the trip report for 7/9/19; it will give you a good idea of the trip.
Assemble at Mt Rob ert car park at 0830. Welcome talk, objectives, and introduction of instruc tors and other participants. &nbs p; &n bsp; Sort into groups; about four trainees per instructor. A mix of skill l evels in each group is good. Hand out gear to those who require it; pay/col lect hire charges. Examine ice axes and crampons (attached to boots), and m ake any necessary adjustments.
Head up Pinchgut to the tops. Trainees
can swap to other groups to suit their pace. At the first suitable
slope, stop for instruction and practice. Include self-arrest instruction a
nd practice; with nothing, with ice axe, with a walking pole, wearing cramp
ons. As we proceed up, and over into the basin, we can instruct and practic
e as we encounter suitable slopes.
Techniques to practice:
Climbing, traversing and descending on easier slopes boots only (no i
ce axe or poles), with axe, with poles, crampons only, crampons and ice axe
, crampons and pole(s). Progress to practicing on steeper slopes using flat
foot (French) techniques until trainees are confident.
Practice
on different types of snow/ice.
Front point techniques. Combined techniques.
Efficient step plugging, and cutting st
eps.
Rapid descending in various conditions, including glissadin
g techniques where appropriate.
Basic Avalanche assessment and a
voidance.
Other objective hazards.
Assessing what is
safely doable, and what is not.
Route finding.
Rotating the lead,
and efficient travel.
Anything else. Lunch on the slopes if condition
s are clement, otherwise down at the lodge.
On arrival at the lodge,
unlock and carry out setup procedures with assistance, safety and housekeep
ing briefing.
Continue instruction and practice after lunch, and
on Sunday morning.
Sunday afternoon we can have a theory sessi
on:
Route planning; weather and avalanche forecasts, huts/camp sites,
escape routes, which end to start the trip, river crossing, clothing and ge
ar (including ice axe and crampons type).
Keeping dry.
Watching o
ut for each other. Especially anyone who might be operating beyond their co
mfort level, or maybe suffering from fatigue, hunger, dehydration, illness,
injury, cold, overheating, low morale, or who may be unsuitably garbed.
Snow shelters, tents/tarps etc, seeking shelter.
Hypothermia, cold
injuries, sunburn, snow blindness.
Anything else.
Any suggestion
s or questions? Pack up, cleaning, winterise, lo
ck up and head to the car park.