Francie, Chris, Marc, Pato and JP: an awesome collection of ski guides!
Every winter the guides of SVT gather to run training seminars and workshops. Typically we focus on particular goals at each training, dusting off skills, sharing lessons and tricks and evaluating how to do things better and more efficiently. This years early season training was focused on winter rescue. We discussed and practiced avalanche rescue, emergency shelters and stoves, 1st aid and then ran 3 separate sled evacuations off Titus Ridge to the trailhead. Check out the photos below to get ideas for different possibilities and approaches to addressing a forced bivy or having to evacuate a partner with a broken leg.
The familiar and always beautiful ski up Titus Ridge in the morning cold
Niels hauling the SKED rescue sled
Brooks Range tarp emergency shelter as a pyramid
Francie using a Mega-Light, a deluxe emergency shelter. Note the hot brews made with a sterno and ski poles.
Ed nailing a spacious and comfy emergency shelter with an 8×10 tarp and some trees.
Chris checking out Pato’s shelter, beta-mid style.
Pato’s emergency stove. Simple: a sterno, tin can and metal water bottle will get the job done.
JP using the brooks range tarp in another configuration
Looking almost like a planned camp.
Chris showing how a Alpine Threadworks tarp/sled can work for a simple shelter.
Brooks Range all-in-one tarp/sled in a simple trough structure.
Joe, demoing this simple emergency shelter and stove.
Kyle with the 8×12 trap as a mid.
Niels, improvising with no extra gear or tarp.
Chris and Marc packaging Francie in an Alpine Threadworks sled. Simple, quick and a guide favorite on the tests.
Ed and Niels constructing the standard Brooks Range sled.
Packaged and descending in a SKED litter/sled.
Fairly tight and comfy in the SKED.
The SKED slides the best.
The SKED requires good braking on steep slopes.
