ADV43000

SPECIAL NOTES: ***$500.00 NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT, NON-REFUNDABLE FEE***PREREQUISITES: Current WFR, experience at altitude, Spanish language skills and prior whitewater exposure (all recommended). LD: Instructor signature required; significant backcountry travel experience, plus basic rock climbing skills; UD: Instructor signature required; Alpine Mountaineering or snow/glacier experience demonstrated in a climbing logbook. SPECIAL NOTES: Students interested in registering for this course MUST attend a pre-registration informational meeting at 7:00 p.m., November 3, Crossroads Conference Room. A Course Application form and Intent to Register form will be required. This information will be used by the instructors to determine appropriate enrollment. Students who are successful in the application process will be required to pay a $500.00 non-refundable deposit that will be credited toward the course fee. Further information will be given when students are notified of their acceptance into the course. These students will be required to attend an additional pre-course planning meeting, date/time/location TBA; Class meets at 2:00 p.m. on January 9 in San Juan 201-B; flight to Quito on January 10, 2011; $1225.00 estimated student expense for airfare, food, personal equipment, and misc. Students are required to have climbing gear and other personal equipment, so costs may be higher if students need to purchase additional gear. Attend the pre-registration meeting for more details about gear requirements.****A VALID PASSPORT IS REQUIRED****COURSE DESCRIPTION: This intensive, field based course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced students with solid backgrounds in extended backcountry travel in mountain environments. The focus is on implementation of a self-contained mountain expedition in a foreign country. The course will include the exploration of regional cultures, geography, and ascents of appropriate mountaineering objectives. The expectation is that students will be building on existing skills and knowledge. Topics to be covered include: expedition planning and logistics, itinerary development, area-specific technical skills, safety and hazard evaluation, place-based natural history and cultural studies, and leadership.