COURSES

MOUNTAINEERING

Primarily there are four types of mountaineering courses:

Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC)	Search And Rescue(SAR)
Advanced Mountaineering Course (AMC)	Method of Instruction(MOI)

BMC and AMC are normally for duration of 28 days, while SAR and MOI could vary from 15-21 days. To undergo the AMC you need an A grade in BMC, and A grade in AMC for the other two.

BMC

Basic Mountaineering Course, offers basic orientation and skills in rock craft, ice craft, rope work, mountaineering awareness, expedition planning, outdoor survival, camp craft, wilderness navigation, exposure to glaciers and high Himalayan Ranges and a real climb to a high point or a peak. Emergency procedures are an essential part of BMC. The first few days are spent in theoretical classes after which the trainees are taken to a glacier for the rest of the course. The course is physically and mentally challenging and requires a basic level of fitness. The age limit is from 18-35 though age relaxation may be given for special cases.

AMC

Advanced Mountaineering Course offers more practical oriented and imparts advanced techniques of climbing with greater emphasis on expedition planning and execution, emergencies, peak climbing, team building, leadership qualities to help students acquire the skills and confidence to organize and undertake challenging expeditions The age limit is 18-40 years.

SAR

For those of you who are more serious about mountaineering and hope to lead major expeditions. SAR is invaluable as it teaches you all the emergencies and rescue procedures, evacuation systems, saving lives in extreme situations. SAR is mostly about being self-reliant and developing your confidence to undertake rescue operations.

MOI

Teaches you more about how to impart training to others and is important for those of you who wish to become climbing or outdoor instructors either in schools or adventure industry.

Institutes

India has ten institutes recognized by IMF, offering mountaineering courses:

• Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling,WB
• Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi,UK
• Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports, Pahalgam, J &K
• Indian Institute of Mountaineering & Skiing, Gurlmarg , J &K
• Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports, Pahalgam, J &K
• Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering & Allied Sports, Manali ,HP
• Sonam Gyatso Mountaineering Institute, Gangtok ,Sikkim
• High Altitude Warfare School, Gulmarg , J &K
• Mountaineering & Skiing Institute-ITBP, Auli, UK
• National Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Dirang, AP
• Indian Himalayan Centre for Adventure & Eco Tourism, Chemchey, South Sikkim

Besides these four there is the Sonam Gyatso Mountaineering Institute (SGMI) Gangtok, Indian Himalayan Centre for Adventure & Eco-Tourism (IHCAE) Chemchey, Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM), Gulmarg and the recently launched National Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (NIMAS) in Dirang(Arunachal Pradesh). These too offer similar courses with different durations in their respective region.

SPORT CLIMBING

Various courses in Sport Climbing are:-

• Belayer's Course
• Route Setters Course
• Judges Course

These courses are organised periodically by the IMF and Zonal Committees. Updates will be found on the website or facebook page of the IMF. Like the page to get updated information.

WILDERNESS FIRST AID

IMF regularly organizes the WAFA(Wilderness Advanced First AId) through the Hanifl Centre Mussoorie.
Watch the 'Events' section of the website for details