Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:05:31 -0800 (PST) From: Paul J Csonka To: alpine-club-official [AT] lists.stanford.edu Subject: [alpine-club-official] Intro to Crevasse Rescue, Feb.5 and 6 The Stanford Alpine Club is happy to announce the holding of its annual Intro to Crevasse Rescue class! Quick quiz: What do you do if you're climbing on a rope-team with a 1-ton Sasquatch that falls into a crevasse, and your hands are tied behind your back? [Panic, you say? Okay...that's reasonable.] If you're looking to learn for the first time, or are looking to refresh your skills for the season, this class is for you. The class consists of two portions: 1) Classroom Session, Thursday Feb.5, 7:30 - 9:00 pm (location on campus TBD). This portion is open to the Stanford community--no need to sign up. Learn the basics of travelling on glaciers and rescuing a climber from a crevasse fall using various pulley systems. 2) Practice Session, Friday Feb.6, 2 - 4 pm (location: a field on the Stanford campus, with specifics to be announced at the Classroom Session). Implement what you learned! This portion is open to SAC members and has limited enrollment, so you must complete the form included below. You will get an email from us before the classroom session if you are accepted. You may still sign up to practice if you don't come to the classroom session, as long as you know the material. In the field, after teaming up with other class participants, you will practice going through various techniques for rigging anchors and hauling system, with a strong emphasis placed on safety and thoroughness. We'll provide ropes, biners, slings, and other relevant gear, though if you have personal gear we encourage you to use that. In the case of inclement weather, this session will be postponed to a later date. If interested in participating, please fill out and return the form below. We look forward to seeing you there! Paul and Sam 1.) Name: 2.) E-mail: 3.) Stanford affiliation and year (Student? Faculty? Official Sasquatch hunter?) 4.) In brief, how much mountaineering training or experience have you had? (e.g., "Once I put on crampons," "I took a course, but haven't climbed anything yet," "I've done Liberty Ridge solo on rollerskates", "I rescued that Sasquatch in the example above" ) 5.) Have you had previous crevasse rescue training or experience? 5a.) If you answered Yes to (5), would you be willing to pair up with one or two novices during the practice session to show off your skills as you build your pulley systems, and if need be, help them along when they build theirs? 5b.) Will you be attending both sessions, or only the practice session? 6.) Which (if any) of the following items of required gear are you missing, and thus can't bring to the practice session with you? We will do our best to bring equipment that you may be missing. Harness Ice ax Pulley Prussik cords (set of two, each at least a 1.5 ft-long loop) or mechanical prussiks Belay device and locking biner Cordelette 7.) Do you have any questions or concerns about anything, including scheduling, your experience level, or equipment?