Marcelo Mascarenoe
Learn to lead on challenging terrain on this high-altitude mountaineering course. As you explore India’s remote Kumaon region, you’ll develop the skills you need to travel on ice, snow, and rock in an alpine environment. You’ll start with the basics of backcountry living, including minimum-impact camping and navigation. Then, progress to more advanced skills like glacier travel and crevasse rescue. Interact with local communities in villages tucked high in the Himalaya, immersing yourself in a new culture and landscape. Learn about traditional ways of life and the region’s unique ecology as you trek through high passes and sweeping valleys. Get a true alpine experience while camping as high as 18,000 feet. On non-moving days, hone your technical skills so you’re ready to tackle the next peak.
Surrounded by breathtaking scenery, you’ll wake up each day ready to meet fresh challenges and push the boundaries of your comfort zone. Regardless of whether you have mountaineering experience or not, you’ll find opportunities to become a more effective team member as you take on different leadership roles. As you gain confidence in your ability to navigate difficult terrain, you’ll also develop your own leadership style. Route finding, camp selection, and organizing meals with your group become lessons in communication and decision making that will serve you well in the wilderness and beyond. You’ll leave the Himalaya as an international traveler and mountaineer with the skills to lead wherever your next adventure takes you.