UAlberta - The Austrian Alps: Integrated Mountain Studies and Travel Skills

City: Innsbruck Country: Austria

Overview

PLEASE NOTE: The Austrian Alps: Integrated Mountain Studies and Travel Skills course has been cancelled for 2015. Please check back for 2016 start date.

Held at the University of Innsbruck's Obergurgl Research Station in the high mountain environment of the Austrian Tyrol, this three-week course integrates both interdisciplinary mountain studies (ecology, glaciology, geology, land-use and human history) and physical mountain travel skills (such as summer hiking, climbing, and mountaineering).

Students receive hands-on instructions in the field by mountain studies scholars from both the University of Alberta and the University of Innsbruck, as well as internationally certified mountain guides.

The primary objective of this course is to have a rich and rewarding international learning experience in an exceptional setting: the high Alps of the Austrian Tyrol. Given the host destination, all learning will be specific to the local Austrian Alps but issued in a global context.

This course will be eligible for three transfer credits in INT D 281.


When Can I Go?

Terms Offered: Summer

Dates & Duration:

3 weeks (1 week on-campus)

2016 Summer Dates TBA


Eligibility Requirements

Open to: All Faculties

Level: Undergraduate, Graduate

  • There are ten spots available in this program.
  • Open to all UAlberta undergraduate students.
  • No prerequisite is required.
  • No foreign language competencies are required.
  • All lectures and course material will be delivered in English.
  • No prior mountaineering or climbing skills are required for this "introductory" course.

However, because there is a skills component to this course, students enrolled must take responsibility for ensuring they are physically and mentally fit to be taking such a course. If a student has a physical or mental condition that may compromise her/his participation in the course, it is the student's responsibility to inform the course coordinator.

Students may contact the course coordinator for further information on the physical activity requirements and are encouraged to seek medical advice if necessary.


Program Information

Language of Instruction: English

The primary objective of this course is to have a rich and rewarding international learning experience in an exceptional setting: the high Alps of the Austrian Tyrol. Students will be exposed to introductory theories and concepts while in the filed by numerous scholars from a variety of different mountain studies disciplines, including climatology, ecology, geography, geology, glaciology and history. Because students will be spending so much of their time in the alpine environment, learning how to move safely and respectfully through it is equally important. Students will thus also be learning valuable physical activity skills, such as those used in summer hiking, rock climbing, and mountaineering activities. Given the host destination, all learning will be specific to the local Austrian Alps but discussed in a global context.

No prior mountaineering or climbing skills are required for this "introductory" course. However, because there is a skills component to this course, students enrolled must take responsibility for ensuring they are physically and mentally fit to be taking such a course. If a student has a physical or mental condition that may compromise her/his participation in the course, it is the student's responsibility to inform the course coordinator.

Students may contact the course coordinator for further information on the physical activity requirements and are encouraged to seek medical advice if necessary.

Students will receive specific training in:

  • journal keeping and note taking;
  • identifying and monitoring weather in the mountains;
  • scientific method related to field ecology and geography;
  • understanding the influences of human and natural disturbances in shaping mountain environments;
  • evidence for global changes in the Alps;
  • navigation in the Alpine environment (map, compass, and GPS);
  • trip and route planning using summer mountain terrain (glacier travel, hazard management, route selection and route finding);
  • introductory rope handling for rock climbing and mountaineering, and participating in roped travel on rock, snow, and ice;
  • electronic communication devices and protocols (radios, spots, satellite phones);
  • emergency situation management

2015 Course Schedule*

*subject to change

An extensive mandatory half-day orientation meeting to be held prior to the trip in the Winter Semester on the UAlberta North Campus once registration is complete. This will be a general course orientation, a review of the syllabus and expectations, personal gear list, as well as an opportunity to discuss travel logistics, etc.

June 18-24 (excluding the weekend): The first week of the course (five full days, excluding the weekend) will be held at the UAlberta North Campus, where students will be in various classroom settings. This week will include introductory seminars from UAlberta faculty (primarily from FPER, but also from other mountain studies colleagues in the faculties of Science and Arts) focusing on the physical and human dimensions of the alpine environment of Austria and Europe. Introductory skills lessons will also be held at the UAlberta Climbing Wall. One afternoon will be spent learning basic conversational German. Overall, during this period, students can expected to be fully engaged for five days with some independent reading and travel preparation in the evenings.

June 25: Travel day. Students can expect a full day for travel (likely an overnight) with layovers in London, England, or Frankfurt, Germany. Once in Innsbruck, Austria, students will proceed on their own accord from the airport (via taxis or city transit) to the University of Innsbruck's student residences, where they will be staying for the nights of June 27 and 28. Maps and directions will be provided to students in advance at the pre-course meeting.

June 26: UAlberta students and faculty meet for lunch in Innsbruck, Austria (all students must have arrived by this time). The afternoon will comprise of the following activities:

  • A general orientation to Innsbruck, the heart of the Austrian Tyrol
  • An afternoon visit to Oesterreichischer Alpenverein's (Austrian Alpine Club's) permanent museum exhibit at the Kaiserliche Hofburg (Imperial Palace) entitled "Mountains: A Mysterious Passion."
  • Evening is free to explore the city's sights and cuisine

June 27: Exploration of Innsbruck continues…

  • Students take an early morning ride up into the alpine environment above the city (via the Hungerburg and Seegrube/Hafeleker cable cars) and are given an orientation to alpine geography, ecology, and infrastructure of the region. The walking tour will be led by course instructors and a Uinnsbruck faculty member.
  • Students are afforded free time in the afternoon to independently explore the city.
  • An evening mixer with University of Innsbruck students hosted by the university's Canadian Studies Centre and the Institute of Geography.

June 28: UAlberta group departs Innsbruck bright and early and travels via shuttle bus up to the Obergurgl Alpine Research Centre, our alpine home for the remainder of the course, which, at an altitude of 1,940m, lies next to one of the Europe's finest Biosphere Reserves and the Oetz Valley glaciers.

  • On the drive up to Obergurgl, students will visit Ötzi Dorf Archäologischer Freilichtpark (the Ötztal Association for History and prehistoric buildings museum) in Umhausen and receive a lecture on the long human history of the Valley.
  • Afternoon orientation to the Alpine Research Centre. Students will be given free time to get settled into their dorm rooms at the Centre.
  • Evening lecture to kick off the integrated academic program

June 29-July 2: Integrated academic program. UAlberta students and faculty will integrated with the University of Innsbruck's Institute of Geography Field School, led by Prof Hans Stötter, and other UInnsbruck faculty, including Prof Kurt Nicolussi and Prof Bruno Abegg. Lecture topics include glaciology, geology, land use and human history, and the ecology of the Tyrolean Alps. All lectures will be accompanied by daily field excursions (rain or shine!), which will also include several UInnsbruck guest faculty, including Prof Roland Psenner (Institute of Ecology and Vice-Rector), Prof Brigitta Erschbamer (Institute of Botany), Prof Rüdiger Kaufmann (Institute of Ecology), Prof Martin Burtscher (Institut für Sportwissenschaft), Prof Michael Hasler (Instut für Sportwissenschaft), and Prof Reinhard Lackner (Institute of Zoology). Students can expect four full days, with some independent study in the evenings.

July 3: Introduction to rock climbing at Moosalm

  • UAlberta students are shuttled down valley to an introductory rock-climbing area at Moosalm, which kicks off the skills portion of the course led by Cyril Shokoples, an internationally accredited mountain guide and mountain safety specialist (a past President of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides), along with a local Austrian mountain guide.
  • Afternoon will be sent on the Moosalm klettersteig (via ferrata)
  • Students can expect a full day of instruction outside at the crag

July 4: Rock climbing skills training continues at Obergurgl…

  • With the option of another klettersteig (the "Obergurgler")
  • Students can expect a full day of instruction outside, but will be in walking distance of the Research Centre

July 5: Hike to Hochwildehaus, an alpine hut in the valley above the Research Centre that will serve as the base for what remains of the skills portion of the course.

  • Heavy packs can be sent up to the Hochwildehaus via the Langtalereck Hut, allowing students to hike with light daypacks. Students can expect a full day of travel, with opportunities for continued skills training en route
  • Optional Schwarzenkamm Klettersteig en route

July 6-7: Two full days of snow and ice skills instruction at and around the Hochwildehaus.

July 8: Summit attempt! Possible options include the Hochwilde, Bankkogel, The Hangerer, Salurnspitze, among others. Students can expect a full day of travel in the high alpine.

July 9: Students travel from Hochwildehaus to the Obergurgl University Centre in the morning and then return to Innsbruck in the afternoon.

  • The UAlberta group will enjoy a group dinner in Innsbruck, which will formally conclude the Austrian portion of the course.
  • Students will stay at the University of Innsbruck's student residences

July 10: UAlberta group returns to Canada (or individuals stay longer on their own)

July 13-14: Post course wrap up on the UAlberta Campus Completed assignments can be electronically submitted No formal meeting requirements


Fees & Costs

Program Fee** $2,805

Accommodation $740

Airfare (estimated) $1800

Non-Instructional Fees $220

Food & Miscellaneous Expenses (estimated) $300

Application Fee $250

Total = $6,115

*Please note that fees are approximate and subject to change.

** This fee covers all instructional costs, tuition, special gear rentals, shuttle service while in Austria, curricular events while in Innsbruck (admission fees to museums, cable cars, etc.)

Every participating student accepted into the course will automatically receive $750 in funding from the Education Abroad Group Award. Additional financial assistance may also be available through the Education Abroad Office's Funding opportunities.


Housing

Housing will be arranged by the program at the University of Innsbruck's student residences and the Obergurgl Apline Research Centre. The cost of accommodation is not included in the Program Fee and must be paid separately.


Program Contact

University of Alberta International, Education Abroad