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My Look at the Calgary Highlanders Basic Mountain Operations Course - December 2004
By Corporal Phil Bialek

The beginning of December 2004 brought with it the inaugural Calgary Highlanders Basic Mountain Operations course. Eight Highlanders and one medic began the course under the expert tutelage of our three resident Advanced Mountain Ops instructors: Captain Hugh McReynolds (our full time Regimental Support Staff Adjutant from the Royal Canadian Regiment), Sergeant Fabio Lacentra (formerly of the Calgary Highlanders, now with15 Field Ambulance) and Sergeant Mark Dodd.

Fast and furious would definitely be an understatement when applied to this course. We were met with a barrage of knots. For those of us who hadn’t spent the weeks leading up to the course getting help from Captain McReynolds it was a tough couple of days. We started with very simple knots and moved all the way to more advanced lashings and anchors. We were issued all sorts of mountain kit from harnesses to carabiners to rope. From there the course was off and running. Every Wednesday night was spent learning new knots, climbing and rappelling techniques, and a myriad of other basic mountaineering skills. Our last Wednesday night was spent on a climbing wall practically applying our theoretical climbing and belaying skills. It was a great learning experience and I for one got a lot out of it.

The course culminated with a weekend spent out in Kananaskis at Mt Yamnuska. We rendezvoused at the Armoury early Saturday morning and drove out to the mountains. All in all I would say that I learned the most on this Saturday of training. The course candidates set up all manner of installations from zip lines, to rappel lanes all in the beautiful sunny Rocky Mountains. On Sunday we again met early at the Armoury and headed back out to Mt Yamnuska, this time however in pouring rain. We spent a cold but very educational day practicing our installations, rappel lanes, static lines, and casualty rescue techniques. It was quite a sight to see Corporal Waye, our resident General Duties expert, being tied into a [shifty at best] rescue basket and lowered off a cliff. The end of Sunday’s training brought with it the end of our course. Looking back over the last few days I am amazed at how much I have learned. It was a great course and overall a wonderful experience. Any Calgary Highlander that has the opportunity should definitely take the Basic Mountain Operations course.