Imagine achieving the summit of a snowy 13,000 foot peak at dawn; the colors of the desert, jagged peaks, and sunrise like a kaleidoscope. With a mountaineering course with IWLS in Great Basin National Park, you will have the opportunity to develop the skills of a mountaineer. This course begins in Utah where we will meet before heading to one of Americas least visited, and most stunning national parks. Great Basin National Park is home to some of the greatest vertical relief in the United States outside of Alaska. Wheeler Peak (13,036ft/3,973m), the 12th largest mountain in the contiguous U.S., with its soaring rock ridges and steep alpine faces offers mountaineers an array of climbing options of varying difficulties. The “big mountain” alpine setting provides a perfect winter classroom for aspiring alpinists and leaders.

Get after it- safely Learning the skills of a mountaineer will exponentially increase your horizon of possibilities. On this course you will cultivate the core technical skills of a mountaineering guide, while practicing techniques in real world conditions. You will progress and develop from basic skills to implementing complex methodologies on real mountaineering objectives. Your expert, tested instructors will imbue upon you their hard won competencies.

Build Confidence as a Leader An experiential, participant focused course like this is an ideal venue for cultivating leadership skills and confidence. You will have opportunities to not only learn the technical foundation of mountaineering, but also the leadership and decision making frameworks of a lead guide. Learn the art of managing group dynamics and leadership styles in an exciting venue. These skills are as valuable in the front country as they are at the summit.

Wilderness Winter Camping- in style This course will not only prepare you for the leadership and skills requirements of a mountaineer, but also teach you how to live in the wilderness. You will learn how to set up a camp above the treeline, how to cook delicious meals on a camp stove, and the secrets to staying comfortable and safe in harsh winter environments.

Salt Lake City UT: Salt Lake City Utah is a premier destination for mountain sports. Featuring immense amounts of public wilderness land- skiing, rock climbing canyoneering mountaineering, and ice climbing within a days drive make it the ideal hub for IWLS Utah. The Mountaineering course will stat here.

Great Basin National Park: The park is notable for its groves of ancient bristlecone pines, the oldest known tree species, and 13,063-foot (3,982 m) Wheeler Peak, as well as Wheeler Peak Glacier. The park is rarely visited in the winter and offers incredible solitude. Additionally a diverse range of terrain allow for an ideal venue to build from basics to challenging objectives.

The Snake Range: The Snake Range rises dramatically from the great basin of the inter-mountain west. This chain of picturesque desert peaks offer some of the highest vertical relief in the US outside of Alaska. Due to their high elevation they receive ample snowfall in the winter- great for developing skills like crampon use, creating anchors and more.

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 required.

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

Mountaineering Guide Training Certificate of Completion
 
 
 
IWLS Avalanche Level 1*

*Avalanche Level 1 certifications subject to conditions.

Course Itinerary (printable PDF)

Day 0: We will meet up in Salt Lake City, Utah the evening prior to the course start date. We talk about expectations for the course from the students and from the instructors. We will look at maps, answer questions, and do a gear check.
 
Day 1: We’ll pick you up in the morning from your lodging. We will then drive from salt lake city to Great Basin National Park. We will set up a preliminary camp and begin teaching lessons.
 
Day 2-6: We will move up into the mountains and set up a base camp. We spend the next few days here teaching core skills and building a platform of competency. You will begin to take on responsibility as leader of the day. The first portion of the trip focuses on expedition camping, and general travel techniques. Skills will including but are not limited to: avalanche awareness, safe winter travel techniques, general mountaineering skills, belaying, and anchor building.
 
Day 6-11: More advanced mountaineering skills and summit objectives. Once we’ve covered the basics, we’ll move on and apply these skills to some of the ascents in the area. Additionally, we’ll cover more advanced skills including route finding, navigation, emergency protocols, high angle rescue and more. Utilizing the great weather of western Utah, we’ll attempt some exciting summit climbs above 12,000 feet
 
Day 12: At the end of the course the Instructors will evaluate and consult with the students- giving feedback on their performance. Additionally you will move down and back to the trail head and head back to Salt Lake City on Day 12.

• 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.

 
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.
• 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 prussik arrangement to team management.
• 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.
• Objective Hazards: Rock fall, river crossings, and avalanches are examples of objective hazards. Learn how to identify such hazards and minimize group exposure.

 
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 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 avalanche 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 Logistical Info

What is included in the course price:

• Food & Lodging during the course - We will provide a comfortable house and all meals during the course.
• Transportation during trip Transport to/ from course venue and Salt Lake City, UT
• Professional instructors - Our instructors and guides have extensive knowledge of the area, and a passion for skiing in wild places.

 
Students are responsible for the following:

• Personal clothing & Equipment - Review the equipment list included under "Documents."
• Food & Lodging outside of the course - Students are responsible for food and lodging before and after the course.
• Travel insurance - We highly recommend travel insurance for all of our programs.
• Airfare - Review the "Travel Information" under "Documents" for more details.
• 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!