A 4-hour fast-track to a better understanding of when and where ice is most likely to be weak, and what to do if you or a partner breaks through.
Designed for
Skaters, bikers, skiers, and people who work on or near ice.
Curriculum
Classroom: We'll spend 2 hours in a classroom reviewing ice formation, evolution, and travel strategies. This presentation is highly visual—you will benefit from Luc's many years and over 2,000 miles of travel on ice.
Practical: Exercises designed for small groups, limited equipment, and remote settings. You will work through a progression of exercises to gain confidence in your ability to self-rescue and assist someone in need:
- Self-rescue with and without ice picks, with progressively less buoyancy.
- Partner rescue with throw ropes.
- Optional wet immersion and field dress-out.
Learning objectives
- Understand the formation and evolution of ice so that you know areas and weather conditions to avoid.
- Adopt a travel strategy to test the ice as you go.
- Become proficient in self-rescue.
- Learn to use a rope to assist someone who is unable to self-rescue.
- Recover from a wet immersion.
Ice Rescue Training involves inherent hazards—we can not guarantee a safe learning environment. We will discuss the safety plan, what can go wrong, and what to do about it. Luc Mehl is a certified Ice Rescue Instructor and will be equipped to help anyone who needs assistance.
Essential Eligibility Requirements
Required Equipment
Suggested Equipment
Safety
Schedule
There are no more courses for the 2025-2026 winter.
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Sign up for the NewsletterPete
The water exercises- especially the rescue scenario was especially helpful for me to get the practice and feel the real world challenges of staying calm.
Lindsey
This was one of the best courses I have ever taken! I was honestly pretty nervous about the outdoor portion of the course, but the way Luc structured it I felt really safe and ended up having a ton of fun.
Raien
The pictures and science gave me enough confidence to feel comfortable going out on the ice to gather my own information and play around a little in areas I probably wouldn’t have before.
Meet the instructor
Luc Mehl's work in safety education has earned two national book awards, national public service and risk management leadership awards, and a citation of honor from the Alaska State Legislature.
Luc's courses combine an academic interest in ice, technical training at the highest level, and over 2,000 miles of skating on Alaska's lakes and rivers.
