The Waddington Extravaganza

Each summer the PNW sends out three mountaineering courses to the Waddington Range in British Columbia, Canada. The following video depicts the logistical side of a Waddington Course – all from the perspective of a humble intern. It shows the re-supply of WAD 2, the exit of WAD 1 from the field and the entrance of WAD 3 into the field The pictures and video are from the 2011 summer courses. (all images and music are credited at the end of the video)

NOLS Waddington Extravaganza from S. Eliza Scally on Vimeo.

Schedule breakdown:

WAD 1 is driven into the field

WAD 2 flies into the field on float planes

WAD 1 flies out of the field on float planes, WAD 3 is taken into the field at the same time by the same float planes (as shown in video)

WAD 2 takes a boat across a lake in order to be driven out of the field

WAD 3 is flown out of the field by fixed wheel planes

All WADs have three ration periods. They take their first ration into the field with them. One week later, they are re-supplied by helicopter (as shown in the video). Their second and third rations are brought to them at this time. While the students sort their second ration, two instructors take the third ration in the helicopter to a pre-determined location and bury it in the snow. Their second ration will sustain them until they can reach this location and uncover their final ration.

The Waddington Mountaineerng course is the PNW’s most remote course and the only one re-supplied by helicopter.