Summer Guide Training for 2012 Season

Starting on June 11 through Wednesday June 13, 2012 Aspen Alpine Guides will be doing guide training for the upcoming season.

This training is free. The three days of training does not guarantee work in the upcoming season. All participants will need their medical certifications up to date. Current A.A.G. guides are not required to go through the entire training and are welcome to come to single days. All participants need to inform A.A.G. of the days they will be participating.

The schedule for the training:

Monday, June 11 – The day will start at 8:00 am with a brief meeting in the parking lot of Hunter Creek Condominiums, Aspen, Co. All participants will then car pool to the Burgershack climbing area up Independence Pass. The day will be devoted to setting up top ropes at Burgershack and Powerline. Risk management and safety will be discussed throughout the day along with emergency procedures. We will also go over ground school and proper belaying techniques using the B.U.S. system of belaying, not Slip-Slap-Slide method. Everyone will have a chance to set up proper top rope anchors using both manmade anchors and natural anchors. We will also do an “escape the belay” seminar and all participants will have time for hands on practice.  The day will end around 3:30 pm with a short de-brief the day.

Tuesday, June 12 – This day will start at 8:00 am with meeting at the location of AAG storage and going over protocol for a day of guiding and what to pick up at AAG storage. We then head back up to Independence Pass for a full day of setting up top rope climbs at Diehard climbing area. We will build anchors and discuss their relative merits. We will be doing rappelling and going over safety considerations for rappelling with clients. Please, bring first aid kits as we will go over what we should be carrying in the kits. We should get some climbing in at Diehard. The day will end around 3 to 3:30 pm with a short de-brief.

Wednesday, June 13 – This will be the longest day of the 3-day training. The day will start at Castle Creek Road Church just off the Round About at 5:00 am. The goal of the day is a possible summit of Castle Peak, depending on snowpack, weather, and group fitness. We will also be checking out everyone’s ability to do a long snow climb, work together as a group, group decision making, and ability to climb up and down in variable conditions. Ice axes, harnesses, crampons, helmets, and short roping ability will be needed during the day. The ability to stop immediately with a strong self arrest is paramount. The day will end back at the Church parking lot in the middle afternoon, again followed by a short de-brief of the day.

The above schedule may change. All participants will need packs, harnesses, crampons, helmets, proper footwear, and any other necessary clothing, food, thermos, etc.

AAG offers two training sessions yearly for all current and aspiring guides: one in early December and the other one in early June.