Page 37 - RAFMA Winter 2003

ATC Sonthofen-Bavaria
A lp in e M o u n ta in e e rin g .
The Alpine Centre in Bavaria runs courses tailored to mountaineering and ski-touring in the Alps. Alpine mountaineering courses are run, again starting with alpine proficiency through to Alpine Mtn Ldr, a new award which is being trialed this season and will replace the Summer Glacier Ldr (SOL) award.
Another course run only at ATC is the Klettersteig course. It's a great course which enables the leader to take up to 4 people on the 'iron way' routes which are popular for the mountain walker keen to explore that next step - scrambling skills using ladders, rope and iron ropeways and anchors. These klettersteig routes take steep and meandering routes up mountain ridges and faces to summits. This activity is popular with unit expeditions, however it is important to hold the award to run it. This is where the Klettersteig Ldr and the Adv JSMEL(S) awards are sometimes confused. Neither leader award can be used for the other activity, albeit some of the technical and rope management skills are similar. Klettersteig; is a great way of climbing on some of the more challenging and impressive peaks that ordinary walkers cannot climb to.
Skiing Courses
Alpine ski courses are run here starting with the proficiency level and progressing through to instructor level awards. Ski mountaineering has a strong emphasis at Sonthofen and the skiing is more challenging and demanding with steeper descents. The ski tours are geared to the larger mountain areas; these are heavily glaciated and tours extend to the high alps such as the popular Haute Route and the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland. There are a number of courses run specifically to tour to build up experience prior to going for the ski expedition leader.
Changes to Alpine M ountaineering Courses:
The alpine mountain leader (AML) award will replace the SGL course in
2004. The courses content proposals are as follows: Course Training Objectives
A M P - glacier travel techniques including crevasse rescue and an introduction to klettersteig.
A M L - a 10 day training and assessment course to lead across glaciers, moving on non-graded rock and various mountain terrains, use of Satnav, tour planning, exercise procedures and risk assessment procedures.
The syllabus for the AMI (instr) has not been confirmed yet and it is planned to be programmed for 04/05. It will cover all of the AML content but to what extent graded and mixed ground would be included is not certain. The holder of the AMI will be able to run the AMP award as distributed training.
HighAltitudeModuleCHAM]
This course has been devised due to the number of expeditions visiting the Greater mountain ranges where altitude is an additional hazard for trekkers and mountaineers. The course content has been distributed to the Service Mountaineering Clubs for comment and anyone wishing information on it should contact the RAFMA TDO. It has not been programmed yet into any Centre's programme. It will, however, be a useful course for expedition leaders to attend as further knowledge to mountaineering at altitude.
Distributed Training
This is one way for people to gain a proficiency award in an activity as an alternative to attending a JS proficiency course. Any qualified instructor on a unit can register with HQ JSMTC Indefatigable as a trainer to run a proficiency award of that activity. This is particularly useful for stn expeditions; the instructor receives the syllabus from the Centre and is then able to offer the proficiency to expedition members. It encourages people to learn the basics of mountaineering whilst on expedition and at the same time gain an award. It is becoming more important for our expedition leaders to know who is competent when selecting members for an expedition team as it demonstrates that a competency level has been achieved and that a duty of care has been applied in the selection of team members.
RAFMA are looking at offering the proficiency awards on future summer rock course, the winter meet, JSAM and RAFMA sponsored expeditions. It is, of course, dependent on having appropriately qualified instructors running the activity. I'm confident we can progress this. Which brings me onto encouraging RAFMA members to maintain a logbook on mountaineering activities, especially if you want to register with the civilian ML Scheme. This is important and necessary when you prepare yourself for leader and instructor awards.
So the JSAT Scheme isthere for you to take advantage of. What we've looked at here are just the mountaineering and skiing courses. There are the same comprehensive progression of courses for kayak/canoe, caving, parachuting, paragliding, hangliding, gliding, sub-aqua and offshore sailing. The cost is minimal (a small admin charge by the Centre), you have on-duty status which allows you to travel to and from the course at Public expense. The experience you'll have will be worthy of recounting vividly in your logbook and you're stories will be repeated in many a mountain bothy for seasons to come. So get out there and take the opportunity; if you progress to leader or instructor awards, you can lead your own stn and RAFMA expeditions - RAFMA are always looking for qualified leaders.
Fopmore hfbrmation aboutJSAT coursesvisityourPEd FTtand browse through the JSP419. The 2003/2004 JSATCoursesprogrammewillbepublishedasaDO inSep 0 3 . If y o u h a v e a n y o th e r q u e s tio n s , y o u c a n c o n ta c t m e , th e RAFMA TOO, at HQ PTC FTAF Innsworth [95471 Ext B B S S ] o r F T A F m a il: p t o - t g d a - t p e d 2 b
The costis minimal[a smalladmin charge],you have duty status and travelis at(Publicexpense.The experience you’! have is w orthy of recounting vividly in your m ountaineering log book, and probably as stories in bothies fo r seasons to
By Dave Howie
Journal 2003 RAFMA