Advance Mountaineering Course

Advance Mountaineering Course (AMC)

AMC aims at training the trainees to become potential leaders and members of expeditions into the Great Himalayas and to churn out 'Lead Climbers', the duration of this course is also 28 days.

One is eligible for an AMC only if he/she had got an ‘A’ Grade in Basic Mountaineering Course from any of the recognized mountaineering institutes.

Besides brushing up their basic techniques, the following are also taught.

The objectives of the Advance Course are:

Advance techniques of climbing on rock, snow and ice

Planning and Execution of an expedition in the Great Himalayas

Scientific and technical aspects of mountaineering and allied subjects

Trainees are given an exercise on planning an expedition to a peak above 5500 Meters / 18,000 feet which is actually executed by them in the mountains of Garhwal Himalayas, under supervision of NIM Instructional Staff.

Day by Day Activities of Advance Mountaineering Course (28 Days)

Day 01

Arrival, Reception and Instructions about Course.

Day 02

NIM Physical Conditioning, Distribution of Ropes, Adm talk, Opening Address, Tea with Staff, Visit to NIM Campus, Issue of Equipment, Medical Inspection, Deposition of Cash & Valuables, Visit to NIM Souvenirs & Museum, Revision of First Aid I & II, Revision of Rope Knot (Machard & Valdutain), Lecture on Expedition Planning- Part-I & II, Briefing for First Outing, Revision of Map reading, Training Film, Games Library and Own Time Work.

Day 03 - 08

TRAINING AREA TEKHLA (HEIGHT- 4, 200 FT, TIME - 02 HRS) (LECTURE/ DEMONSTRATION AND PRACTICE)

Cleaning / Layout of Hostel, Trek to Tekhla, Cooling Down Exercise, Instructor Prayer, Revision of Basic Rock Climbing, Long Pitches Climbing, Anchoring Belaying, Fixed Rope, Use of Riverso & Stance Management, Aid Climbing, Rappelling, Jummaring and Climbing with the help of Valdutain and Machard Knots. Revision of Rock Terminology, Camp Hygiene & Sanitation, GPS, Direct Aid Climbing, Making of Improvised Harness, Use of Expansion Bolts, Counseling, Return to NIM by Bus, Games and Library and Own Time Work.

Day 09

NIM Sports Climbing (Indoor & Outdoor) & Jummaring on sports wall, Exchange of Equipment, Fitting of Crampons, Lecture on Acclimatization, Library and Expedition Planning.

Day 10

RIVER BANK (MOUNTAIN STREAM CROSSING)

Cleaning/Layout of Hostel, Physical Training, Preparation for Stream Crossing, Move to River Bank by bus, , Instructor Prayer, Mountain Stream Crossing, Return to NIM by bus, Briefing for Move to Mountain, Games, Return of Library books, Preparation for move to Mountain.

Day 11

TEL CAMP (HEIGHT-8, 200 FT TIME- 4 Hrs)

Cleaning & Layout of Hostel, Loading of Rucksack on the bus, Visit to NIM Temple, Move to Bhuki by bus, Trek to Tel camp, Establishment of camp, Jummaring with the help of Valdutain, Counseling and Own Time Work

Day 12

GUJJAR HUT (HEIGHT 11, 150 FT, TIME-7 HRS)

Trek to Gujjar Hut, Establishment of camp and Visit to Khera Tal for acclimatization walk.

Day 13

BASE CAMP (HEIGHT- 12,300 FT, TIME- 02 HRS)

Trek to Base Camp, , Instructor Prayer, Establishment of Camp, Fitting of Crampons/ Gaiters, Expedition Planning and Training Film.

Day 14

BASE CAMP Physical Training, , Instructor Prayer, Revision of Basic Techniques of Ice craft, Anchoring, Belaying, Fixing of Ropes, Revision of Lectures on Medical Aspects/High Altitude Disease, Checking of Tent-age and Equipment, Counseling, Expedition Planning and Map Reading.

Day 15

ADVANCE BASE CAMP (HEIGHT- 13,600 FT, TIME -03 HRS)

Load Ferry to Advance Base Camp, Return to Base Camp and Practice on Map Reading/GPS.

Day 16-17

ADVANCE BASE CAMP (LECTURE/ DEMONSTRATION AND PRACTICE)

Trek to Advance Base Camp, Establishment of Camp, , Instructor Prayer, Tip Toe Climbing, Direct Aid Climbing on Ice Wall, Two Piton Climbing, Revision of Lecture on Avalanche, High Altitude Cooking, Revision of Medical Lectures and Expedition Planning.

Day 18

SNOW CRAFT

Instructor Prayer, Revision of Snow Craft, Self Arrest, Team Arrest, Glissading, Rope Travel, Ascending, Descending and Route Open, Counseling and Revision of Mountain Terminology.

Day 19

CAMP-I (HEIGHT-15,800 FT, TIME- 04 HRS)

Opening of Route, Load Ferry to Camp –I, Return to ABC and Expedition Planning.

Day 20

Trek to Camp-I and Establishment of Camp.

Day 21

HEIGHT GAIN Opening of Route and Return to Camp-I.

Day 22

BASE CAMP: Trek to Base Camp, Establishment of Camp, Maintenance of Equipment, preparation for Quiz Test/ Feed Back, Navigation Exercise, and Expedition Planning Project.

Day 23

QUIZ TEST, FEED BACK AND NAVIGATION EXERCISE.

Day 24

Trek to Tel Camp, Establishment of Camp and Rehearsal of Graduation Ceremony.

Day 25

NIM Trek to Bhuki Road Head, Move to NIM Bus, Maintenance of Equipment, Collection of Cash & Valuables, Visit to Local place of Interest by Bus, Expedition Planning and Own Time Work.

Day 26-27

NIM: Return of Equipment, Rehearsal of Graduation Ceremony/Group Photograph, Visit to NIM Souvenirs. Submission of Expedition Planning Project, Games/Library, Principal’s Interview, Principal’s De-briefing,, Issue of NIM Jersey, Graduation Ceremony, Group Photograph, Tea with Chief Guest, Return of NIM Jersey, Time Work.

Day 28

Dispersal After morning Tea.

* Note: Duration of outdoor may vary according to weather conditions

NIM Conducts 03 Advance Mountaineering Course (AMC) every year.