Brncalova chalet winter mountaineering course

Basic winter mountaineering course

There occured yearly basic winter mountaineering course from 25th till 27th january 2008 at the chalet chata pri Zelenom plese (familiarly Brnčalova chata; 1551 m), organized by the Slovak mountaineering club. I was lucky to spend the time with those people.

Scheduled was both theoretical and practical examination. Practical included moving with crampons while being on one rope, then any thinkable kind of fall on steep snow or ice (with or without crampons, with or without ice ax; face to slope with feet falling first, face to slope with head falling first, back to slope with feet falling first, face to slope with head falling first). Then we trained belaying in snow and in rock, with 2 axes, with one ax, in soft and in hard snow, quick belaying with your own body (over the arm or over the leg). Then we climbed an icefall and trained to use ice screw. Afterwards, back in the valley on quite large boulder we trained rappeling. We also examined snow profile and learned how to know the avalanche danger. We also had to dig snow cave and sleep in it the previous night - instead of staying in the chalet - and also we had to cook outside.

Due to high avalanche danger (4th grade) and upcoming hurricane we didn't ascend any mountain to examine our newly acquired abilities. It was scheduled for the last day - sunday, but on sunday we descended quite quickly and about 40 men and women in one queue - so that we couldn't get lost in the hurricane. I became the member of Slovak mountaineering club, acquired plenty needed abilities, got to know perfect mountain friends. I will spend some time with these guys for sure..

Photos of mountains from distance in this album is from my approach to the Tatras.

A NOTE: SOME MORE PHOTOS WILL BE ADDED (ONLY OF SCENERIES, THERE WAS NO TAKING PHOTOS DURING EXERCISING).

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