Courses
AVALANCHE SEARCH AND RESCUE BASICS

2 days avalanche course with focus on companion rescue and effective use of avalanche rescue equipment. Invest in your self and your travel partner!

from: **75.000 kr.**
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Trip dates 25.-26.Jan 2025
SeasonJan-April
Duration2 days
DifficultySuitable for everyone

Course overview

An avalanche rescue course that builds a proper foundation for future winter travel when it comes to avalanche terrain and rescue. The goal of the course is to is to teach participants up to date and best practices when it comes to companion rescue, the use of avalanche safety equipment and effective shovelling techniques.

Students will get to know how to prepare and use online information like the weather and avalanche forecast, learn the limitations of their equipment, identify and manage basic avalanche terrain and how to perform a rescue in an effective way.
This course builds up a foundation for future winter travels wether it is for ski touring, hiking or snowmobiling.
A course packed with information, with an on-location lecture and 1.5 days out in the field where we put our skills to practice. This course is suitable for everyone and is “on foot”, so no need for skis or snowmobiles.

Both days will start at 09:00 and finish no later than 17-18:00.

In an avalanche accident, time is a big factor so it is important that we know our equipment and have the skills to react in a timely manner with up to date procedures.
Invest in your self and learn from a professional in the field!

Practical information

Below are details about the course. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Requirements

Fitness level: Basic, comfortable to move 200m in elevation per hour over 2-4 hours.
Experience level: Beginner, no experience but eager to learn new skill sets.

This course is not operated on skis and no prior experience is needed.

Price

Group course (4-6 participants)
75.000 kr. per person

For a private course please contact us.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Indoor lecture and outdoor work shop
We meet up at our office 09:00 in the morning where we will have an interactive lecture on avalanche terrain, snow safety, avalanche rescue procedures and basic route selection in avalanche terrain.
In the afternoon we have a work shop outside where we dial in tranceiver search where we set up different scenarios including single tranceiver search and multiple burial scenarios.

Lecture topics are:
Primary focus

Weather and avalanche forecast

Avalanche terrain

Effective avalanche tranceiver search

Shovelling technique and the snow conveyor belt

Effective probing technique

Introductory topics

Avalanche formation and release

Avalanche terrain

Hazard identification and terrain traps

Basic route selection

Day 2 – Field day
We will head into the field and choose terrain in the vicinity of Reykajvík. We will build on what we learned from the day before and put it to action. The main focus is on putting everything together:

Evaluating the scene

Organising rescue

Signal search

Fine search

Probing

Efficient shovelling

Basic first aid

We will try to create a good learning environment and have students involved in decision making through out the day.

Course goals

What you will learn during the course:
Avalanche formation and release
How to identify avalanche terrain
How to use the avalanche forecast to mitigate your avalanche risk
Using appropriate travel techniques in avalanche terrain

What you will learn in companion rescue:
– How to respond safely and efficiently to an avalanche incident
– How to hone your transceiver skill
– How to use your probe effectively
– How to shovel. Learn to organise your group with the most efficient shovelling techniques available
– How to practice these skills

Logistics

Day 1 – Indoor lecture and a field day
The lecture will start at 09:00 in the morning, and we aim to be finished no later than 17:00. The lecture will take place at our office at Dugguvogur 42, second floor, see map. The entrance is on Sæbraut side. The indoor lecture will be hosted few days before the the field days.
In the afternoon we will travel a short distance for an outdoor exercise.

Day 2 – Field day
Meeting point is at N1 höfða (see map) at 09:00, where we can collect into different cars and share rides with each other. We try to choose a location within 45min drive from Reykjavík.
We expect to be back in town between 17-18:00.

Students are responsible for both transportation during the course.

What to bring

Good outdoor clothing
Good hiking boots
Warm jacket down or synthetic
Shovel, probe and transceiver (can be rented)
Hat
Gloves
Lunch / snacks and water
Small backpack for personal equipment
Notebook or phone to take notes

What’s included

Course preparation package and reading materials
Guiding fee and expenses

What’s not included

Transport (contact us if you do not have your own vehicle)
Lunch
Avalanche safety equipment

Do you have any questions?

Below are answers to some of the questions we get regarding the tour. If you do not find the answer do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]

Do I need any prior experience to participate in your tours?

Since all of our tours are private we are able to adjust the difficulty and and experience level needed for each tour. However, for some of your tours it is advisable that you have have some background in the activity:

Glacier hiking and glacier ice climbing
There is no prior experience needed for those tours

Waterfall ice climbing
It is possible to try waterfall ice climbing if you do not have any prior ice climbing experience. We would choose an easy climbing route with easy access. If you have never done ice climbing before it is worth looking into our Ice climbing and glacier hiking tour on Sólheimajökull.

Ski touring
For our ski touring tours you have to be a competent off-piste skier and able to ski down in various conditions.

Rock and alpine climbing
No prior experience is needed for single pitch rock climbing. For multi pitch climbing it is advisable that your climbing level is at 5.7-5.8 and you have to know how to belay a lead climber.
Can I request a tour that is not on your website?
Yes, without a doubt. Private guiding is what Asgard is all about and if you can dream your adventure, we can make it happen. If you do not find your perfect adventure on our website, do not hesitate to get in touch at [email protected]!

Examples of private tours we have done in the past:
- Expedition planning and support
- Cross country ski touring
- Expedition and polar training
- Private hiking, day tours and multi-day tours
- Location management and safety on film projects
- Private tours for photographers
- Alpine trekking on glaciated summits
- Multiday tours in Greenland
Do you offer pickup service?

In general we only meet our guests on location, or car pool from a central location in Reykjvaík. However, if you do not have your own car and can not meet us on location please get in touch.
What happens to my booking if the weather or conditions are bad?

In case it is not possible to operate the tour due to weather or conditions we try the following things:

Move the tour to a different date if that works for you, change to a different activity if you agree on that. If none of the above is possible and we have to cancel the tour due to weather or poor conditions, we will refund you the tour.
In how much advance should I book my tour with you?

The short answer is: the longer the better. We have limited resources of guides and sometimes we are fully booked.
For less technical tours like Glacier hiking, Glacier hiking and ice climbing, and alpine trekking tours we can usually accommodate you with a short notice. For more technical tours like Waterfall ice climbing, Rock climbing and alpine tours longer advance is better to secure a spot.
Short notice can be 24 hours before departure and longer notice is at least two weeks before.
What is the best season for the activities you offer?

The best season depends on what activity you choose. The appropriate season is stated at the top of each tour. To break it down:

Glacier hikes and glacier ice climbing
Available the whole year. This activity is not dependant on weather or conditions. The only time we have to cancel or post pone these activities is when the weather is really bad.

Rock climbing and alpine rock climbing
Rock climbing is a summer activity available May-October. This activity is highly weather dependant and not possible when the rock is wet or when it is raining. If you are interested in rock climbing outside of the season, it is possible if we have really good weather days. Please contact us for further information.

Ski touring
The best ski touring in the south-west part of Iceland is usually around spring time. The ski touring season is usually between Feb-May, however it is possible to ski outside the season if conditions are good or we ski the glaciers like on the tour “Ski touring Snæfellsjökull”. If you are interested to ski outside of the season please contact us for further information.

Waterfall ice climbing and alpine winter climbing
The main season is from late November to late March. Iceland has a maritime climate and temperatures fluctuate through out the season making this activity highly subject to weather and conditions. In case we have poor conditions for ice climbing we can always substitute the waterfall ice climbing with ice climbing on the glacier.

Alpine trekking
Snæfellsjökull can be climbed almost the whole year, appart from the darkest month of the year, December.
Other bigger mountains like Eyjafjallajökull and Hvannadalshnúkur, the highest summit of Iceland, have the best conditions from early spring to late summer.