In a Nutshell
- One day per month
- Training topics based on real life scenarios
- Participation at your own risk & responsibility
- Bring your own personal equipment
- Language will be English
As outdoors professionals, it is important that we keep our own skills sharp. Most of the time this happens “on the job”, but it is still worth it to also dedicate some days for more specific training and exercises.
I have put together an itinerary that will span over the coming summer with topics I believe will be useful not only to myself, but also to fellow guides, mostly focusing on possible emergency scenarios and improvising solutions with what we bring with us. All training scenarios will be based on real life situations that either have happened, or could easily occur.
Those training days are not meant to be a ground-up course, but to practice and improve the skills we already have, gain new insights and discuss different approaches amongst each other.
A skill refresher on ice climbing, anchor building, belay techniques, and the use of rope ascenders, prusik cords, etc.
Þröng / East Breiðamerkurjökull at 13:00
For those without vehicles capable of driving into Þröng, prepare to be at the turnoff from the main road at 12:30.
Standard equipment for ice climbing / glacier guiding (harness, helmet, eye protection, crampons, ice tools, anchor & belay equipment, etc.).
One rope per two participants (50m or longer).
Some of the topics I would like to cover on this day:
Simple drop loop assists and more advanced rescue techniques for larger teams.
Þröng / East Breiðamerkurjökull at 13:00
For those without vehicles capable of driving into Þröng, prepare to be at the turnoff from the main road at 12:30.
Standard equipment for glacier guiding (harness, helmets, eye protection, crampons, ice axe, etc.).
One static rope per two participants (50m or longer)
(details coming soon)
GPS and non-GPS navigation, preparation and route planning. Geographic intersection and resection.
TBD at 16:00
This will be an indoors event, possibly even online if that will work for everybody.
Pencil, ruler, compass.
Maps will be provided (printed, or as PDF to print yourself).
(details coming soon)
Practicing non-GPS navigation and location fixing in the field.
Turnoff to Heinaberg at 14:00
Compass, ruler, marker pen. Maps of the area will be provided (printed, or as PDF to print yourself). The maps may be laminated to be waterproof and a bit more sturdy, so bring a sharpie or other permanent marker.
Please bring an actual compass. One of the differences we will be practicing is adjusting for true vs. magnetic north, and phone apps aren’t always clear on what they are showing.
(details coming soon)
Crevasse rescue practice on snow covered glaciers.
F985 / Jöklasel at 13:00
For those without vehicles capable of driving up to Jöklasel, prepare to be at the turnoff from the main road at 12:30.
Standard equipment for traversing snow covered glaciers (harness, helmet, eye protection, crampons, ice axe, picket, shovel, carabiners, prusik cords, etc.).
One static rope per two participants (50m or longer)
(details coming soon)
Single and multiple person avalanche searches.
Turnoff from road 1 onto F985 (to Jöklasel) at 14:00.
Standard avalanche safety equipment (avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel). Microspikes.
(details coming soon)
Low ceiling / confined space rescue scenarios inside ice caves.
Þröng / East Breiðamerkurjökull at 14:00
For those without vehicles capable of driving into Þröng, prepare to be at the turnoff from the main road at 12:30.
Your normal equipment for guiding ice cave tours.
(details coming soon)
No. Due to the nature of these training days, all participants must be entirely self sufficient in terms of safety and equipment. The goal is to provide an environment where guides and other outdoor professionals can practice with and learn from each other.
The participation fee is intended to cover some of the cost of preparing each of the training days, as well as for the equipment I will be supplying.
There is not a strict limit right now, but as I continue to prepare and fine tune the program there might be limitations (or indeed a minimum number of participants required for example to pull of a full-on rescue exercise including litter carry).
For best results, bring your normal guiding gear as you would do for the corresponding tour (check each of the days for details).
It is tempting to come a bit better prepared than what you would normally have with you, but if you’re unlikely to carry an item on a normal tour, it is best to also practice without it (unless you may end up convinced that it is something worth bringing after all).
If any more specialised equipment is needed – say, for practicing a litter rescue – I will organise it.
I will try very hard to keep the schedule, but we may choose to switch out topics.
I am of course very interested in your opinions and suggestions for which topics would be worth exploring in such a setting. So if you have any comments please let me know!
This varies; please check each of the days for details.
I organise these training days primarily as a community service, but there is a small participation fee for the additional time invested in preparing for and arranging each of these days, and the additional materials supplied (ropes, backup anchor systems, etc.).