Utah Register Now! _________________ Supporting Documents Detailed Info Equipment List Current Schedule Reading List "Safety was always #1 and it showed with everything we did. I learned so much about mountaineering: how to travel, avalanche safety, rope teams, and how to be a better leader." -Jeff C. More Student Comments Utah & Nevada Semester   (80 days)     Students develop a profound   appreciation of Utah’s canyon country and ‘LNT’ principles. You’ll learn comprehensive avalanche safety awareness and expert emergency response in a winter mountain environment. The IWLS Utah semester program gives you the skills and leadership experience to succeed as an outdoor leader.    You’ll experience walking beneath towering sandstone spires, squeezing through a tight slot canyon, cutting a precarious cornice onto a snow slope below and making improvised splints in the backcountry during these 80 days of professional instruction.    Our standard Utah Semester consists of three courses. Mountaineering, Backpacking & Canyoneering, and Rock & Ice Climbing is a common combination. If you are trying to develop your first aid skill set, consider the Wildnerness First Responder as an add-on.     Course LocationThe intermountain region of Utah and Nevada are home to a diverse range of landscapes and topography, from snowy peaks to desert canyons. The IWLS base of operations in Alta, Utah is the perfect location to access the unique wilderness areas of Utah and Nevada and for teaching wilderness education and technical skills. From the steep mountain ranges of the west desert, sandstone mesas of the Colorado plateau, and plentiful winter snow, Utah and Nevada have it all.     Mountaineering  Numerous peaks above 12,000ft, and a vertical relief of 7,000 feet, offer an array of climbing objectives within Great Basin National Park. Steep snow slopes, rock ridges, and big mountain terrain amidst a remote wilderness environment make it a perfect location for developing expedition mountaineering skills.     Ski/Snowboard Mountaineering  The skiing and snowboarding in Utah is renowned throughout the world for its deep snowpack and dry powder. High quality snow, in combination with an abundance of steep mountain terrain, make Utah the premiere location for learning backcountry and ski mountaineering skills. Photo: Ted Roxbury     Rock Climbing   Notch Peak, located in Utah’s west desert, is home to the largest limestone face in the continental U.S. A sea of granite offers endless amounts of crack, face, slab climbing, and plenty of sunshine. IWLS students have this ideal remote area all to themselves to hone rock climbing technique, anchor placements, safety management, and multi-pitch climbing.     Ice Climbing   The balance of cold winter temperatures and sunshine make ice climbing in Utah’s Wasatch mountains some of the best in the country. The ice climbing in Provo canyon and surrounding areas has everything from moderate top-rope climbs to steep, technical multi-pitch routes.     First Aid & Rescue  Avalanche courses, high angle rescue, wilderness first responder, wilderness advanced first aid, and professional incident response. The snowy peaks and red rock canyons of Utah are an ideal location to develop technical rescue and first aid skills.     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.     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.     IWLS Course Curriculum outlines the essential components for effective outdoor leadership. Here are a few points that your course will focus on.     Leadership: Opportunities to lead the group will be abundant and you'll have the time to learn and practice multiple styles of leadership.     Navigation: Learn how to take a bearing, read a topographical map, triangulate your position, and 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.     Environmental Ethics:As adventurers in some of the most pristine environments on the planet it is our duty to respect the natural world. All of our courses practice and teach Leave No Trace ® principles. ____________________________________________________________________ Photo: Austin Peters     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: 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. ____________________________________________________________________ Photo: Eli Fierer     IWLS Backpacking Curriculum prepares students for exploration into remote, backcountry settings. Here are some points we'll cover on your course:     Pre-trip Activities: Learn how to plan and prepare for an extended wilderness expedition. We’ll cover everything from technical camping equipment to group and personal expectations.     Stoves and Campfires: The ability to repair a broken stove, make an emergency fire after being submerged in an icy river, and melt snow efficiently for water are key components for leading a group in the wilderness.     River and Stream Crossings: In river crossings, attention to detail and safety are #1. You'll learn and practice safe techniques for wading across a small stream or doing a Tyrolean traverse across a raging river.     Geology: From plate tectonics to granitic batholiths, you'll learn the history of the land you are exploring and how these forces create and influence the environment around you. ____________________________________________________________________ Photo: Adam Clifton     IWLS First Aid & Rescue Curriculum prepares students to handle wilderness emergencies and manage liability. Here are some points we'll cover on your course:     Incident Response:  From gathering witness statements, communicating with the press, and managing incident command, you'll learn the skills to effectively mitigate liability following an incident.     CPR: All IWLS first aid courses incorporate CPR for the professional rescuer.     C-spine Stabilization: Learn to recognize mechanisms of injury, maintain in-line stablization and proper use of a backboard.     Patient Assessment: Patient history, signs and symptoms, and detailed assessment are critical tools for identifying appropriate medical care in the backcountry.    Certifications upon completion of the 80-day semester participants may qualify for the following certifications:        Level 1 Avalanche Certification*             International Wilderness Leadership School        Wilderness First Responder             International Wilderness Leadership School        Professional Incident Response             International Wilderness Leadership School        24 Day Guide Training Certificates 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.