Type of course

Course content

The course, Safe Guiding in the Arctic, is taught throughout the whole of the academic year. It is mainly practically oriented, but also includes a theoretical approach. It comprises field excursions and courses of longer and shorter duration in the varied nature of the Arctic throughout the year. The course content is in a nature and climate that raise high demands on the students personal skills, mental strength and group awareness.

The course aims to gradually build-up the candidate’s expertise in hiking, skiing and camping in the Arctic nature. The course content and learning outcome is harmonized with the Specification of competencies, knowledge, skills and abilities of the International Mountain Leader in accordance with the UIMLA standard, managed in Norway by the Norwegian Nature Guide Association.

Main training courses and field trips:

• Glacier training: Glacier travel and crevasse rescue, both summer and winter. Starts at a basic level. Skills are developed further over the year of study. It includes multiday field trips and day excursions with glacier training during summer and winter. The total extent of the glacier training during the study program is more than 15 days. A more detailed content of the glacier training will be distributed at the start of the course as learning goals in the lecture and excursion plan.
• Snow and avalanche training: knowledge of snow, avalanche and rescue.
• Multiday hiking excursion with camping over several days: Moving camp and focus on procedures for trekking, camping, and route finding using a map and compass
• Day trips with a focus on trip planning; conscious decisions along the way and safe leadership of groups in the Arctic nature
• Arctic winter camp: procedures and methods for overnight camping with tents; snow bivouac and emergency bivouac; navigation with GPS. Clothing and equipment in cold weather
• Arctic winter skiing. Focus on overall planning and risk assessments in a complex and challenging Arctic nature
• Exam skiing trip: teacher-led skiing in small student groups. Students independently plan and lead guests on skis.

Objectives of the course

Knowledge

• Has broad knowledge of topics related to safe travel and camping in the arctic nature
• Can update his/her knowledge in the methods and procedures of leading groups safely in Arctic summer and winter terrain
• Has knowledge of the largescale meteorology for the Arctic in general and the local effects and weather prediction in special
• Has knowledge of the dynamics of an avalanche, typical avalanche weather, detecting weak snow layers and avoiding avalanche terrain, run out zones and terrain traps
• Has knowledge of the arctic glaciology as the background for safe travel and camp on glaciers. Is familiar with research and development work in the field of snow and avalanche safety
• Is familiar with research and development work in the field of winter travel and camp routines
• Has knowledge of various forms of emergency snow bivouacs
• Has knowledge of cold injuries and hypothermia
• Can update his/her knowledge in the use and development avalanche warning, avalanche problem and trip planning.
• Can update his/her knowledge in the use and development of compass, GPS, altimeter, various orienteering techniques and topographic maps of different types, accuracy and scale
• Can update his/her knowledge in the use and development of commonly used clothes and equipment for travel and camp in arctic nature during summer and winter
• Can update his/her knowledge in the use and development of equipment and procedures for emergency communication
• Can update his/her knowledge of anatomy and physiology as they relate to guiding activities in the arctic nature

Skills

• Can apply knowledge into practical skills in organizing and taking care of oneself and the tourist group in arctic summer and winter nature
• Master relevant tools, techniques and styles for establishing and safely managing a tent camp in summer and winter
• Can apply knowledge to practical use in establishing a snow bivouac and emergency camp
• Can carry out planning for single and multiday trips
• Master relevant tools, techniques and styles for safe travel with groups on glaciers and in mountainous terrain, both summer and winter
• Can apply knowledge to practical use for orienteering with a map, compass and GPS
• Can carry out rescue operations in the field
• Can carry out rescue operations, companion rescue and self-rescue from a glaciers crevasse in summer and winter.
• Can find, recognise and evaluate avalanche terrain
• Can apply knowledge about weather and snow conditions to assess avalanche danger
• Master relevant scholarly tools, techniques and forms of communication for safe travel by avoiding avalanche release and runout zones
• Can carry out rescue operations and companion rescue in avalanches.

General competence

• Can plan and lead a tourist group safely in Arctic summer and winter conditions
• Can plan, and lead assessment of routes, campsites and group organization in a complex arctic nature
• Can plan and lead an accident situation and apply knowledge of the procedures for emergency communication
• Can plan and lead a tent camp in summer and winter
• Can plan and lead a tourist group in establishing snow bivouac and emergency bivouac
• Has insight of their personal and the groups limitations and plan travel according to ability.
• Has insight of the impact strong winds can have on a camp site and emergency procedures if a tent cannot be used
• Has insight of the importance of being able to adapt the program to changes in group limitations, conditions and weather.

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

Recommended reading/syllabus