Course Objectives

The aim of this course is to provide students with the basic skills and knowledge necessary to go on trips in the high mountains and glaciers. They will also learn how to plan and carry out trips in the high mountains and glaciers, and be able to carry out a rescue of a group member on glacier hikes.

Course Description

• Skills and knowledge
• The importance of selecting a trip in accordance with one’s abilities and the demands of the terrain. Safety and the consequences of one’s actions.
• Planning trips: in groups, safety procedures and guidelines concerning glacier hikes
• Didactics: trip guidelines, procedures, organisation, working methods, management and leadership
• The various roles of the guide
• Glacier hikes and guiding
• Equipment and adapting equipment
• Walking on snow: securing falls and deceleration, with and without an axe, tying climbers together, negotiating steep slopes, backsliding in a rope team
• Walking on snow: walking in a rope team, safety measures, axe and the use of snow anchors
• Walking on blue ice: use of crampons, walking techniques and movement solutions, French technique
• Walking on blue ice: using an ice axe when walking, securing and climbing, standing-place, prusik climbing
• Walking on blue ice: walking in a rope team, course anchorage, using pulleys in rescues
• Walking on blue ice: rappelling, pulleys, rescuing injured persons
• Blue ice/snowy areas: walking, practice in leading a rope team, rescue in snowy areas
• Climbing peaks: orientation and choice of route, climbing steep scree-slopes, safety measures when climbing
• Hikes through varying terrain: practice and experience
• Weather and weather signs
• People on the glacier: use of glaciers in a cultural-historical perspective
• Outdoor life on the glaciers: history and development
• Glacier nature and glacier theory

In terms of content and level the course can be compared to the Norsk Fjellsportforum’s standard for glacier courses.

Learning Methods

Instruction is given during the autumn semester.
The course includes lectures, group work, independent study, instruction and practical / problem-oriented guidance in connection with the trips in the mountains and glaciers. The trips are obligatory and consist of 6 days with a guide and 6 days on an individual trip.
NB: All introductions to trips and group work concerning planning are obligatory.

Assessment Methods

Student portfolios are submitted for approval. Before students submit their portfolio they must hand in their trip plan and self-evaluation report, and they must have participated on a trip with a guide and carried out an individual trip.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean