He largest mountains hide inhospitable places, defended by impregnable glaciers. Being able to cross them with security, fluency and speed constitutes a good part of the success of our ascension.

The course will be given completely in the Sierra Nevada de el Cocuy, at an approximate altitude of 5100 meters above sea level.

First day

First camp — Valle de los Frailejones (acclimatization)

After our trip, we shall arrive at the municipality of Güicán, where we will have breakfast and shall begin our trip by car to the Hacienda la Esperanza, approximately one hour. We shall begin the acclimatization hike to our first camp at 3600 meters above sea level. The following topics will be discussed:

• Camping
• Bivouac
• Altitude sickness
• Acclimatization processes
• Necessary equipment

Second day

Second camp — Search.

After our breakfast we shall raise tents. We shall begin a training session about search in which the following topics will be covered:

• levels of information
• ystems of geographic informations
• cartography
• GPS navigator
• plantation and fieldwork
• tracking and execution

We shall begin a hike to our second camp, the Laguna Grande de la Sierra at 4550 meters above sea level. Hike of approximately 4 hours; with assault backpacks assisted by mules. We shall install camping site and shall discuss the contents studied so far in order to go on to the next stage of the course.

Third day

Second camp — Equipment management

With the purpose of obtaining the correct acclimatization of each of the participants in the high mountain course, on this day we will not make and movements that mean change of altitude, we shall remain at the same altitude above sea level. We shall consider topics concerning management of equipment such as:

• Medium mountain equipment, characterization of the camping equipment
• Equipment of high mountain, characterization of scaling equipment
• Chords, snaps, ice axes, harnesses, descend systems, helmets, boots, securities, and more.
• Analysis and prevention of accidents. “Security and risk"

Reconnaissance and acclimatization around Laguna Grande de la Sierra. (4550 meters above sea level). Four hour trip with assault back packs.

Fourth day

Advance camp — Bivouac at the border of the glacier — High chords.

After a light breakfast, very early in the morning we shall move on to the glacier residues in the vicinity of the peak Cóncavo in which participants will get involved in rocky and mixed terrains and glaciers where we will cover the following topics:

• Natural and artificial anchors
• Rappel or descend with chords using all the systems all the types of systems existing in the market
• Climbing by chords
• Application of knots and progression systems
• Identification of the dangers that the use of equipment and adverse climate condition represents
• Chord manoeuvres:
  • Polipastos
  • Tirolesas
• Rock climbing:
  • Railway Type
  • Artificial type
  • Classic type

This night we shall spend it at the border of the glacier in bivouac.

Fifth day

Base camp —Ice, rock and snow

We shall make a displacement through the glaciers of the Cóncavos peaks where students will confront the mountain chains of the Andes Cordillera and will experiment the most variable and unpredictable climate changes in the planet. We shall adopt these surroundings as a classroom where we will consider the following themes:

• Progression on ice and snow
• Auto-detention
• Identification of risks
• Avalanchas y aludes
• Grevices
• High and low temperatures
• Technical equipment as any enemy
• Fog and winds
• Solar radiation

Rescue techniques:

Crevices, snow, rock, mixed terrains.

Sixth day

Practice and peak assault

On this we will practice all our knowledge acquired during the course and all the participants will be evaluated.

Participants will be divided into chord groups of three members. They will have to make the assault of the peaks over 5100 meters above sea level. They will have to tackle different inconveniences that will arise during the assault and will have to act as rescuers in an dummy rescue operation.

Camp will be raised y we shall make our hike towards Hacienda la Esperanza. This will be made assisted by mules. Here we will be collected by a vehicle that will take us to the municipality of Güicán.