STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 I.      Understand ice climbing and all its facets as part of the art of mountaineering.

 II.     Understand the safety, environmental, and ethical issues in the sport of ice climbing.

 III.    Develop skills in ascending both low angle and vertical ice.

 IV.     Develop skills in descending (rappelling), placing ice screws as a means of protection, belay techniques, knots and rope management.

 V.      Understand the ice environment: how to prepare, stay warm and develop winter skills.

 VI.     Understand the placement of lead climbing anchors for ice.

 VII.    Introduction and fundamentals of outdoor leadership and group handling skills as they relate to ice climbing.

 VIII.   Development of good quality judgment relating to ice climbing.

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I.      Climbing signals, safety

 II.     Knots and rope management

 III.    Evaluation of equipment

 IV.     Belay techniques

 V.      Low angle - French technique

 VI.     Mixed movement - American technique

 VII.    Front point - German technique

 VIII.   Top rope technique

 IX.     Flexibility and balance

 X       Maintenance of ice gear

 XI.     Techniques of safe, fast, and efficient ice climbing

 XII.    Fundamentals of outdoor leadership and group handling skills

 XIII.   in the backcountry

 XIV.    Using experiences gained through ice climbing to develop judgment

 XV.     relating to outdoor leadership

 XVI.    Placing lead climber protection