Canoeing 101

The next thing to check off after rock climbing was canoeing. We spent the week at a local lake learning flat water skills to get us prepared for our instructor certificate and for whitewater canoeing. Each morning at the lake looked like a movie set. Golden sun peaking through a thick layer of fog was breathtaking.

Once we wrapped up our learnings on the lake we went for a day paddle down the Elk river. We hit a few swifts and class 1's and for most of us who have not canoed in moving water before, it was a great chance to practice those eddy turns and peal outs. We even had the chance to surf the canoes in a standing wave. Can't wait for the next high-water season.

Rock Climbing In Montana

Possibly one of my favorite trips so far was our Rock 1 course in Stonehill, Montana. We left the school bright and early expecting holdups at the US boarder. Fortunately we got through pretty easily and with enough time to get in a little rappelling at the crag before setting up camp down the road.

Doing some rappelling

 We were once again being trained by the same ACMG guides as the mountaineering trip with the welcome addition of Patty (another FULL mountain guide with the ACMG). As with the mountaineering trip, we were learning more knots, proper anchor setups, rappelling and belaying techniques, as well as learning how to thread and rappel at the end of the day. For the most part our days in Montana were spent racking up mileage on the rock, and I gotta say, it was pretty great. Sometimes I found it hard to believe that were are earning credits while having so much fun.

Sierra's thoughts on mountaineering

      I was lucky enough to get a fellow student to do a short description about thier experience during the mountaineering trip. Here is what Sierra thought of the excursion.

"What could be fun about walking on ice?" is what came to mind when preparing for the MAST programs second out trip of the year. But as I was putting on my spiky crampons, sturdy helmet, and secure harness at the toe of the glacier on our ascent to the summit of Boundary Peak in the Columbia Icefields, it dawned on me what the beauty of mountaineering was. As I looked around me a sense of wonder overcame my skepticism; "I am on a moving body of pre historic ice that slowly carved out these breath taking mountains around me, how cool is that?" Getting used to walking in crampons was a challenge for me because the technique requires a duck like gait wide and flat. Moreover each step must be painfully calculated to ensure a firm grip on the ice. Walking and climbing up a 60-70 degree pitch with nothing but two partners fastened on a climbing rope with prussiks confirmed the reality of my situation and elevated my heart rate rapidly. One fall from any three of us and we could have slid down the rough, icy slope. With deep breaths and an intent focus on mountaineering techniques, we sauntered our way up to a flat landing where a new challenge awaited. Leading the group, I used my ice axe to prod for crevasses (cracks in the ice that are easy to fall into), jumping over any snow covered cracks I found trying not to think about the possibility of falling in. I surprised myself by how much I liked the complexity of the rope systems and safe glacier travel, the methodical process of setting up to start an ascent in the cold mountain air and the radiating sun was centering.

Columbia Icefields

         Following our Mt Fisher trip, we spent some time in class learning how to tie knots, set up anchors, put on crampons and other climbing and mountaineering fundamentals.

       After a week of classroom theory we put some of the skills we learned to the test out on the Columbia Icefield. Unfortunately I had to pull out on the second day due to a wisdom tooth issue, but from what I heard it was a great trip filled with crevasse rescue training and bluebird glacier travel. All in all another great MAST trip.