Courses

AVALANCHE TRAINING – Beginners

2.5 days ski touring course that covers the essentials of avalanche rescue and the basics of ski touring in avalanche terrain. Learn hands on while skiing with a professional in the field.

from: 75.000 kr.

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    Trip dates 25.-26.Jan 2025
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    SeasonJan-April
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    Duration2 days
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    DifficultyBasic touring skills

Course overview

A ski touring course that builds a good foundation for future winter travel. The goal of the ski touring course is to help participants to build the foundation to be able to take applicable and good decision in the mountains, analyse and deal with variable weather as well as conditions during winter. One theoretical afternoon and two days of skiing sums up this ski touring course.

Basic recreational training for groups and individuals who want to develop their ski touring skills for the future winter trips in the mountains.
We offer two venues for this course, one based out from Reykjavík and one based out of Akureyri/Dalvík area.

Course topics include:
– Terrain selection & hazard recognition
– Weather forecast application
– Route selection and travel speed in mountainous terrain
– Leadership
– Clothing & equipment

Practical information

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

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 suitable for everyone that can ski easy and simple off-piste terrain.

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

For a private course please contact us.

Day 1 – Indoor lecture
We meet up at our office 17:00 afternoon where we will have an interactive lecture on avalanche terrain, snow safety and route selection in avalanche terrain.
Lecture topics are:

  • Equipment and packing
  • Avalanche terrain and weather
  • Hazard identification and terrain traps
  • How to ski down safely in avalanche terrain
  • Procedure of avalanche rescue
    • Emergency procedures in case of avalanche burial
    • Simple transceiver search
    • Effective probing
    • Efficient shovelling techniques

Day 2 – Field day on skis
We will head into the field and choose a ski touring area in the vicinity of Reykajvík. The day will start with an avalanche rescue demonstration and exercises and once everyone has mastered the technique we will head for a ski touring summit. We will ease into the tour cover the main techniques of track setting and The main focus of the ski tour is to get everyone comfortable in route selection and hazard identification.

During this day we will cover the following topics:

  • Avalanche rescue techniques
  • Equipment management and care: skins, heel raisers, boot adjustments and bindings
  • Track setting and pacing
  • Route selection and navigating avalanche terrain
  • Downhill Ski technique

Day 3 – Field day
We will continue to build on what we learned the day before. Students will be more in the front on this day and making taking decisions with the support of the instructor. By touring and skiing as much as possible while we focus on route selection and hazard identification students will gain experience in the field and learn how to take appropriate decisions.

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

What you will learn during the course:
– Avalanche formation and release
– How to identify avalanche terrain
– The basics of trip planning
– How to use the avalanche forecast to mitigate your avalanche risk
– Using appropriate travel techniques in avalanche terrain
– Intro to companion rescue

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 organize your group with the most efficient shovelling techniques
– Learn the best methods for finding a victim buried without a transceiver
– How to practice these skills

How to manage avalanche terrain
– Skills to help you plan, prepare for, and execute a safe backcountry trip
– Techniques to minimize risk when travelling in the backcountry
– How to recognize and classify avalanche terrain

We offer two locations for the course. One in the north in Akureyri/Dalvík area and one is Based out from Reykjavík.

Logistics for Reykjavík based course:
Day 1 – Indoor lecture
The lecture will start at 17:00 on the Wednesday before the field days, and we aim to be finished no later than 22:00. 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.

Day 2 – Field day
Meeting point is at N1 höfða (see map) at 08:00, where we can collect into different cars and share rides with each other. We aim to pick a ski touring location in no more than 1 hour radius from Reykjavík.
We expect to be back in town between 17-18:00.

Day 3 – Field day
Meeting point is the same as the day before unless other is specified.
We expect to be back in town between 17-18:00.

Logistics for Akureyri/Dalvík based course
Day 1 – Indoor lecture
The lecture will start at 17:00 on Wednesday before the field days and we aim to be finished no later than 22:00. 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.

Day 2 – Field day
Meeting point in the north will be sent to participants the week before the course.
We aim to pick a ski touring location either around Dalvík or Akureyri, depending on conditions.
The day will finished between 17-18:00.

Day 3 – Field day
Meeting point is the same as the day before unless other is specified.
We expect to finsish the day no later then 17:00.

Students are responsible for both transportation and accommodation during the course.

  • Skitourning jacket and pants
  • Skitouring equipment (skis, poles, boots and skins, can be rented)
  • Showel, probe and transceiver (can be rented)
  • Warm jacket down or synthetic
  • Hat
  • Gloves
  • Goggles
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Lunch / snacks and water
  • Small backpack for personal equipment

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
  • Ski touring equipment
  • Acoommodation

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]

  • 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.

  • 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.

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Our
partners

Arc’teryX

Asgard guides wear Arcteryx gear because it is durable and keeps them warm and dry in challenging conditions.

Fjallakofinn

Fjallakofinn is an outdoor store in Reykjavík offering high quality outdoors products & a rental service.