I am new to mountaineering, but I'm hooked. I have hiking and climbing skills, but I still know nothing about how to safely cross glaciers. Is this something I can self-learn from the inter-webs? Or can I learn this from a friend on an approach? Or (most likely option) is there (in)formal training I can seek out?

Ahh I just organized a glacier a glacier travel and crevasse rescue course with Justin lol. I think he will be posting more training on the weekend in a month or so but unfortunately it won't be in Kelowna lol. In my opinion though if you're gonna travel across glaciers you should know the hauling systems and such and from just learning this stuff I'd say you couldn't sufficiently learn it without some sort of training at least.

Carson

Hey Carson, I'll check it out. Thanks for the advice. I'll keep my eyes peeled for more trips. Driving past Vancouver from Kelowna is a pain, but I have resigned myself to doing it most weekends.

It's nice to see someone excited like this. Much of the typical mountaineering doesn't happen till late-spring/early summer, especially into sort of things. Doing some sort of course is certainly the easiest way to get this training, but not the only way. For some situations, learning on the approach can be an option, but only if you're going for an easy objective, and you have significant time set out for training (this is not normally the case).

Going on non-mountaineering trips with other mountaineers is a good way to gain friends who might be happy to spend some time showing you a few things. Just a warning, we are a little wary of the sort of people who get easily excited about things, but then always bail as soon as they have to put any work in. So you might have to put up with some sour attitudes some times. It's not personal!

Also, there's an ACC Okanagan section in Kelowna. You might be able to do a few things with them.

The ACC is theoretically a good option (active in Kelwona area), but their trips and courses appear to be too long and too expensive, or both. I'm interested in getting into mountaineering in a way more sustainable for me: so less helicopters and more carrying my own gear.

PS> I promise you, I'm not a mountaineering flake. I've been doing overnight weekend treks since I was 9 years old and I approach this new sport cautiously after years of skepticism (... as I skirted pass gear laden outdoors men on many of my favourite hikes). I want to reach more summits and I love learning.