Ice Climbing/Backcountry Skiing

The Wilderness Medical Society invites you to join a small group in Colorado for backcountry skiing and ice climbing.

Who
Medical professionals who have an interest in providing medical care in “remote” environments such as wilderness settings or in developing countries are encouraged to attend. 

What
This week long (7 days/7 nights) ice climbing and backcountry ski adventure will explore the area of Ouray and Red Mountain Pass. The first day participants will arrive in Ouray and get settled. There will be an equipment check and introduction to the week’s itinerary. Participants will spend the first 4 nights in Ouray’s Box Canyon Hot Springs Lodge and after the arrival day they will ice climb each day and have afternoon/early evening CME lectures. These lectures will cover altitude illness, hypothermia and cold-water immersion, frostbite injuries, skiing and climbing trauma and orthopedic injury management in the backcountry.

The next portion of the trip will start on day 5, when the group will travel to the Opus Hut in the San Juan mountains. From here the participants will experience a backcountry skiing. Prior to departing for this adventure, participants will discuss Expedition planning and backcountry ski navigation techniques with an evening CME course before setting out. During each day they will practice a variety of backcountry skills. CME and practical skills sessions on Avalanche prevention and rescue will take place during the days in small groups. As well as skills sessions on hypothermia care/creating a burrito wrap, improvised splints and carries and snow shelters.

In the evening there will be additional CME lectures covering Ultrasound in an austere environment, expedition nutrition, and wilderness medicine kits. Total CME hours 12.

When
January 27 - February 3, 2023

Where
Ouray, Co – Box Canyon Lodge Hotel (Jan 27 - 31)
Opus Hut (Jan 31 - Feb 3)