June 28th, 2005
Saint Mary's Glacier, Colorado
Snow School

Today we practiced glissading in a permanent snow field called Saint Marys Glacier near Idaho Springs Colorado. Glissading is sliding down a snow field using your ice axe to control your speed and self-arrest when you need to stop. Several Crew members also practiced walking in crampons on steep snow, a skill which will be needed on Crestone Needle, a mountain you will see later. We also practiced walking attached to ropes, so on steep snow if one person falls the others can self arrest to stop that person from falling. The weather started off nice, but rained a little by the time we left.

This is the hardest activity so far, and everyone did really well. No one left with extra holes from their ice axe, so it was a good day!