Alaska Register Now! _________________ Supporting Documents Course Description Equipment List Travel Information Reading List "Jason is a patient and knowledgeable instructor. I'll be recounting the memories of powder skiing in Alaska for years to come!" -John D. More Student Comments     -Enjoying the early season powder, Southeast Alaska. Alaska Kite Skiing/Snowboarding; Leadership & Guide Training Course   (12 & 24 days)           IWLS snowkiter courses   enable students to safely harness the power of the wind in many different types of terrain from wide glacial expanses to frozen alpine lakes. Low angle zones that once held little interest now become infinite playgrounds. Students can use the wind to ascend slopes with incredible efficiency. You'll learn the skills to enjoy a lifetime of kiting in an expedition into the heart of Alaskan alpine terrain.           The mountains surrounding Haines and Skagway receive the greatest annual snowfall on the planet. Neighboring Mount Fairweather receives over 1,000 inches (25.4m) of snow annually. The epic terrain and massive snowfall make this area the premiere ski mountaineering location in North America.           This course is critical stepping stone towards becoming an IKO instructor. You’ll have a chance to plan and lead a day of backcountry snowkiting, dig a hasty avalanche pit, and haul sleds across miles of glacier ice. Most likely, you’ll experience face shots carving with the power of the wind and have a chance to enjoy an evening ski during the long Alaskan days. Students have the opportunity to step into a leadership role, learn and teach avalanche transceiver use to their peers, and enjoy some of the best snowkite skiing/boarding on earth! After an IWLS snowkite course in Alaska, you’ll walk away not only with memories of a lifetime, but the technical skills, avalanche awareness, and confidence to pursue expeditionary kite skiing and instruction at a professional level.     Course Location  The vast expanse of wilderness, mighty mountain ranges, and abundant wildlife give credence to Alaska’s nickname as ‘The Last Frontier’. It is a land of towering peaks, massive glaciers, extensive boreal forests, and rich marine ecosystems. Alaska is the epitome of the term ‘wilderness’.     IWLS is based in Haines, Alaska, a small town located near the top of the Inside Passage. Haines borders Glacier Bay National Park. The park and the adjacent 27 million acres, including Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, comprise the largest protected wilderness area in the world. It is an extremely jagged and glaciated mountain landscape that includes the world's largest non-polar ice caps, pristine fjords, and wilderness rivers. Peak elevations in this region range up to 20,000 feet.     The Instructors and Guides of IWLS are widely recognized as some of the very best in their field and have practical leadership experience from around the globe. They are well trained and have an uncommon enthusiasm for sharing their skill and knowledge, borne out of a passion for outdoor exploration.     IWLS lead snowkite instructor/guide Jason Reyes is IKO certified. He has 5 years of experience snowkiting in areas as varied as the Rocky Mountains, North Cascades, Canada, Alaska or just about anywhere he may be when the wind blows. Jason has an extensive background in climbing and skiing throughout North America.     The International Wilderness Leadership Schools' educational model nurtures leadership development and creates an awareness of the guiding mentality that is essential for leading safe, fun adventures in the mountains. The combination of technical skills training, experiential education and practical leadership experience make the IWLS curriculum world class.     The IWLS General Curriculum outlines the essential components for effective outdoor leadership. Here are a few points that the course will focus on.     Decision Making and Problem Solving: Over the course of 12 or 24 days, we’ll discover ways to assess problems, explore solutions and evaluate options in order to make effective and safe decisions in the field.     Navigation: Learn how to take a bearing, read a topographical map, triangulate your position, or navigate in a whiteout.     Safety and Risk Management: Safety is always the #1 consideration. As the course progresses, you’ll develop an awareness to appropriately asses risk and make safe decisions.     Trip Planning: The first day of the 24-day course is devoted to planning, packing, and organizing the logistics, food, and equipment for the expedition. ____________________________________________________________________     IWLS Snowkiting Curriculum   follows IKO (International Kiteboarding Organization) standards for instruction. This structure ensures every student the ability to work towards becoming a safe and independent snowkiter.     Kite set up: We'll start by learning the basics.     Wind window discovery & Weather awareness:  learn to read the wind and weather pattern to maximize efficiency while kiting.     Safety systems: You'll develop proficiency in managing personal safety systems including kite depowering and quick release mechanisms.     Going upwind, downwind, and crosswind: learn to manage your kite in a variety of different conditions.     Launching, landing & relaunching:  as you progress, you'll become more efficient in starting, stopping and overall kite management.     Ascents & descents:  utilize newfound knowledge to access a variety of terrain.     Turning & jumping:  develop dynamic moves in a dynamic environment. ____________________________________________________________________     IWLS Mountaineering Curriculum is built from countless expeditions in Alaska and around the world. You’ll learn how to be a competent and proficient mountaineer in a variety of different environments. Below are some topics we’ll cover.     Belaying: Should we use a fixed belay or a running belay? Our team will learn and practice the finer points of different belay techniques such as the hip belay, running belay, boot axe belay, fixed belay, and more!     Ascending: Fixed lines are an important tool for large groups and guiding applications. We’ll learn how to efficiently use, build and maintain them.     Rope Teams: Rope team travel is a complicated endeavor that requires skill, technique and teamwork. We’ll cover everything from prussic arrangement to team management.     Objective Hazards: Rock fall, river crossings, and avalanches are examples of objective hazards. Learn how to identify such hazards and minimize group exposure. ____________________________________________________________________ Photo: Ben Williams IWLS Skiing Curriculum is developed for riders at or above the advanced intermediate level. Here are some points that will be covered during your course:     Site Selection: Learn how to choose the appropriate terrain and identify hazards to facilitate a safe, fun time in the mountains.     Snow Conditions: Whether skiing deep powder, spring corn, or breakable crust, learn how to identify variable conditions and employ different techniques to enjoy them safely.     Glacier Travel on Skis: When to rope up? How to read crevasse danger? How to ski safely on a rope team? All of these questions will be answered as we travel, ski, and board across icefields.     Routefinding: Both descents and ascents demand good routefinding skills. You’ll develop your hazard assessment and navigation skills to be able to find the safest, most efficient route. ____________________________________________________________________ Photo: Eli Fierer IWLS Avalanche Curriculum is a nationally recognized progression of material that prepares students to be safe backcountry travelers.     Avalanche Characteristics: We’ll examine loose snow, wet snow, soft slab, and hard slab avalanches along with some potential triggers. You’ll learn the definition of terms such as stauchwall, alpha angle, and bed surface.     Snow Stability Evaluation: Is this snow capable of avalanching? Learn tests such as compression test and rutschblock test that will help you evaluate layers within the snowpack. Develop your documentation skills for accurate recording and analysis of information.     Safe Winter Travel: As a group, we will travel safely through avalanche terrain. Considerations will include cornices, equipment selection, route finding, campsite selection, and effective communication.     Avalanche Rescue: Someone buried in an avalanche has an 87% chance of survival if found within the first fifteen minutes. We’ll practice using probes, beacons, and effective search patterns in order to quickly and efficiently find a buried person.    Experience Level: You need to be at least an advanced intermediate skier or boarder.    Certifications upon completion of the 24-day course participants may qualify for the following certifications:        Certified IKO Snowkiter Card             International Kiteboarding Association        Snowkite Certification             International Wilderness Leadership School        Level 1 Avalanche Certification*             International Wilderness Leadership School        12 or 24 Day Guide Training Certificate of Completion             International Wilderness Leadership School                       *Dependent on weather and season Click Here for all available certifications. University credit is available for this and other IWLS courses. Consider combining three 24-day courses for an IWLS semester!