Join your fellow Naval Academy "Alumni and Friends" on a 7-day mountaineering expedition in Alaska's Chugach Range! Challenge yourself to learn the skills needed to climb the mountains you've always dreamed about. Learn to make a glacier your home and let the mountain air clear your lungs each morning. We hope you'll join us on this expedition with like-minded, motivated USNA Alumni.
You'll reach the mountains by fixed-wing airplane, then begin learning the basics of mountaineering. At first, you'll focus on basic camping, cooking and travel skills. As you progress, you'll learn knot tying, rope handling, rope team travel, self-arresting on snow, and belaying. More advanced skills will include crevasse rescue, route finding on glacier, avalanche hazard assessment and the use of 4th and 5th class rope systems for protection during more exposed travel.
Your course will take advantage of every opportunity to prepare you for future expeditions in glaciated ranges; your instructors will focus on developing skills and judgement. By the course's end, you will have the skills to participate in and plan your own mountaineering expeditions. Along the way, you'll have time to enjoy the company of fellow Naval Academy alumni in a pristine mountain environment, learning new skills, overcoming challenges together, and bonding on an Alaskan glacier.
Please submit your application for this expedition by February 16th, and feel free to reach out to custom_education@nols.edu with any questions.