Patagonian Mountaineering School (6 weeks)

  Chile

• Rural Areas: 
Rural Areas

Dates: 06 Mar to 16 Apr 2009, 20 Sep to 31 Oct 2009, 08 Nov to 19 Dec 2009, 14 Feb to 27 Mar 2010....

Description: Scale the summits of remote peaks, trek across Campo Hielo Norte (the Northern Ice Cap of Patagonia), packraft across stunning lakes, plan your own expedition, master glacier climbing and rescue techniques, learn wilderness first aid, mountain gourmet cooking, how to build an igloo, and how to survive in the wilderness of Patagonia and become a fully fledged 'Leave No Trace Practitioner'.

Highlights: For six weeks the vast glaciers, alpine meadows, virgin peaks and crystal clear lakes of Patagonia will be your home as you embark on this voyage of excitement and adventure. The stunning scenery and amazing variety of wildlife makes this area of Chile an amazing place to visit, but to make this Yomps adventure more authentic, challenging, and ultimately rewarding, we will begin learning all the skills we need to achieve self-suffiency in this undiscovered wonderland!

Starting at the edge of the remote Northern Ice Cap of Patagonia in Southern Chile, we will spend two weeks exploring the dramatic scenery and learning the basics of climbing, rescue techniques, wilderness first aid, backcountry cooking, and even how to build an igloo! Our fortnight of training will culminate with an ascent on an unnamed peak that we will have planned and executed as a team to consolidate our mountaineering skills, and witness the incredible view of an unnamed glacier from the summit. Having mastered the basics of mountaineering we will hone our skills on a three day traverse across the wild and challenging terrain of a snow covered glacier. Descending into a valley will then see us take to water on six beautiful multi-coloured lakes to learn the art of 'packrafting', before we make our way through the icebergs of a nearby lake before ascending again onto the Northern Ice Cap.

Our last two weeks of adventure will be planned and led by you the students! Instructors always at hand to afford support and guidance, but you will each be 'leader for the day' and help successfully plan the route, master the climbing skills, and lead the expedition across blankets of snow and over glaciers. Your fantastic skills as seasoned mountaineers will be celebrated with a huge party to each receive your 'Wilderness First Aid' and 'Leave No Trace Practitioner' qualifications, as well as some rather 'unusual' awards!

Cost in US$: $5595 (US)

This Program is open to World Wide Participants.

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Year Founded: 2006