The jagged Peaks of South East AK are ideal for learning the broad skill set of a mountaineer. With a range of features from glacier ice, to steep snow filled couloirs to, heady knife edge ridges the mountains of the areas ranges have it all.

Lead with Confidence The technical skills of a mountaineer are just the beginning. IWLS accredited curriculum is student focused and will challenge and develop your leadership abilities. Test your abilities by leading a rope team on a glacier, teach a lesson to your peers, learn to work with a range of personality and leadership styles. The leadership skills developed on the course transfer to way more arenas than a steep remote mountain.

This Alaska mountaineering course is the perfect setting to achieve your goals whether you are interested in pursuing a career as a professional guide, honing your technical abilities for personal adventures, or expanding your leadership skills in a challenging arena.

Haines: Haines, Alaska is the starting/finishing place for this trip. Haines is a small community located along the fjords at the top of the Inside Passage. The natural beauty and wilderness access found here are responsible for its reputation as a center for wilderness adventure in Alaska.

Chilkat Range Mountains: The Chilkat Mountain Range is 70 miles long and extend south along the Chilkat Inlet, down the Lynn Canal, and onto Icy Strait. They also serve as the eastern border to Glacier Bay National Park. Known for being a heli-skiing mecca, the Chilkat Range is the impressive back drop to the town of Haines. These mountains have been featured in a many ski films, magazines, and bucket lists.

Coastal Range Mountains: The Coastal Mountain Range extends nearly 1,000 miles from the south of the Yukon, the Alaska panhandle, and down the coast of British Columbia. They create the stunning backdrop to the small town of Skagway, Alaska, just up the Lynn Canal from our adventure base in Haines.

Our Instructors: IWLS instructors and guides are highly-trained professionals recognized as some of the best in their field. They have a wealth of experience from guiding throughout Alaska, Canada, and the world. They genuinely enjoy sharing their knowledge of the outdoors in the wild places that they love. Their experiences and leadership help our students to have the best possible experience during their course. Students' safety, education, and enjoyment are their primary goals. 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.

Experience Level: No previous experience is necessary for this course. However, with a desire to learn and an enthusiasm for adventure, you’ll develop the skills necessary for a lifetime of wilderness exploration.

Certifications: Upon completion of the course, participants may qualify for the following certifications:

Mountaineering Guide Training Certificate of Completion
Avalanche Lvl. 1*

*Avalanche Level 1 certifications subject to conditions

Course Itinerary (printable PDF)

Day 0: Meet in Haines for a pre-trip meeting and orientation. Students will be responsible for lodging and meals on their own this day.

Day 1: . We’ll depart Haines in the morning, head to the mountains and establish basecamp.

Day 2-6: As we backpack into more remote areas, we will focus on developing skills associated with mountaineering and mountain travel in the peaks surrounding us.

Day 7-11: We will focus on leadership, judgment, and decision-making development. During this segment of the course, the group will continue to tackle technical climbing objectives. Participants will have the opportunity to be in leadership roles, develop teaching styles, and be active participants in group decision-making and safety management.

Day 12: Pack up camp and head back to town! In the last few days of the course, we will have final evaluations. Students will be evaluated by their instructors on their understanding and completion of the IWLS curriculum, in addition to a self-assessment.

The IWLS General Curriculum outlines the essential components for effective outdoor leadership. Here are a few points that your course will focus on.

• Leadership: We not only exemplify leadership – we teach it and implement it. Students will have opportunities to lead the group through a variety of activities, objectives, and responsibilities.
• Safety and Risk Management: Safety is always our #1 consideration. As the course progresses, students will develop an awareness to appropriately assess risk and make safe decisions in and out of the field.
• Expedition Behavior and Group Dynamics: Because this course is a true wilderness expedition, interactions between group members need to be supportive and contribute to the efficacy of the group. The daily dynamics of the group, combined with guided instruction, will teach students not only how to be a member of a cohesive team, but how to influence and lead an expedition.
• 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.
• Communication Skills: Speaking in public, managing a personal conflict, or leading a group in the wilderness - all of these situations require effective communication. Students will gain confidence in their communication abilities while developing personal leadership styles during this course.
• Clothing & Equipment: You’ll learn to choose the right gear for the correct application, whether enjoying a sunny afternoon on a snow slope or trekking through a tropical rainforest.

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The 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.

• Self Arrest: What happens if you fall on a steep now slope? Learn, through hands on experience, how to stop a fall quickly and efficiently.
• Anchors: Anchor building is a fun, yet intricate subject. We’ll examine single, double, triple and complex anchors, and their different applications. Learn how to place anchors in snow, rock, and ice.
• Crevasse Rescue: Traveling in glaciated terrain requires that every member of the team be proficient in crevasse rescue. We’ll learn how to get a team mate out of a crevasse quickly and efficiently.
• Technical Climbing: Rock climbing, ice climbing and steep snow climbing are all included in the IWLS’ curriculum.

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The 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 15 minutes. We’ll practice using probes, beacons, and effective search patterns in order to quickly and efficiently find a buried person.

Course Documents:

• Course Overview- Printable detailed course overview & itinerary.
• Equipment List - Overview of personal clothing and equipment that you'll need for this course.
• Rental Gear List - List of gear and personal items available for rent
• Registration Form - Outlines policies, and essential information. One required per participant.
• Health Form - This form enables our guides to have accurate health information in the event of an emergency.
• Land Based Activity Waiver - One required per participant. Guests under the age of 18 may go on one form.
• Travel Info - Helpful information on how to get to/from Haines, Alaska.

What is included in the course price:

• Camping gear - Group camping equipment, tents, stoves, etc...
• Expedition food - All food while out in the field.
• Transportation during trip - Travel to the mountains, and back to Haines after.
• Professional instructors - Our guides have extensive knowledge of the area and a passion for mountaineering in wild places.

 
Students are responsible for the following:

• Personal clothing & equipment
• Food and Lodging in town - We can happily recommend lodging around Haines!
• Travel insurance - We highly recommend travel insurance for all of our programs.
• Airfare
• Reviewing course policies - Please reference our policies page for policies regarding payment, cancellations, refunds and student responsibilities.
• Gratuities

 
To Book your adventure, follow the steps below:

• Please call to confirm availability at 1-800-766-3396 or fill out an online form to request more information: Request More Info
• Place a deposit of $500 or 25% of trip cost (whichever is less) to reserve your spot: this can be place over the phone by credit card, check in the mail, or through our payment gateway.
• Once you've reserved your spot, you'll receive a welcome packet with all the necessary registration forms and trip information.
• Be sure to submit all trip registration documents at least 45 days prior to your course. This includes information on your arrival/departure, lodging, dietary, and medical information.

Feel free to call or email anytime if you have questions about your upcoming trip. Our team is excited to help you prepare for your adventure!