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Scottish Winter Mountaineering Course

"The ideal course both for beginners and those keen to brush up on winter skills for hill walking and graded winter climbs. During our Scottish Winter Mountaineering course we teach all the skills necessary to travel safely through UK mountains in winter, focusing on giving you the confidence to venture out independently."
  
5 days
Introductory
4:1 max
Dates: By Arrangement
Price: Private Guiding Rates
Fitness: 2-3
Experience: No previous winter experience necessary. Some rope work or belay skills useful if you aspire to climb at the higher grades.
Included: Guiding Fees
Other Costs: Personal food and accom, fuel at cost.
Book Online Here
 
Summary
Each week is tailored to your personal requirements - so we can concentrate on navigation skills for winter hillwalking for instance, or practice lead skills if you are more of a climber etc. We run this course at a maximum ratio of 4:1 which is optimum for covering the various teaching areas, including ascents of classic snow gullies - but for those keen to push the grade, we suggest a maximum ratio of 2:1 or 3:1 in order progress onto steeper buttress climbs and ice routes up to grade II/III where the use of 2 tools may be required.
We offer this course as a private guiding itinerary - with dates by arrangement during January - March. Prices are as per our private guiding rates, up to a maximum of 4 climbers per guide.
 
Course Base
Our Scottish winter mountaineering courses are based in the Highland centre of Fort William, under the shadow of Ben Nevis. This central location allows full access to shops and services during the week and the best choice of climbing venues each day (we regularly visit both the East and West coasts depending on conditions).
 
Sample Itinerary
Subject to weather and conditions, we follow the general format below:
scottish winter mountaineering course itinerary
Day 1 -Mon

AM meet in Fort William - discuss plans, kit check and sort equipment before heading on the hill for a day of:

  • Ice axe and crampon training
  • Ice axe self arrest drills
  • A short climb or summit
  • Further skills training as appropriate
Days 2 - 5 Tue - Fri
Ascents of classic winter munros, gullies and buttresses. Skills training to include:
  • winter navigation
  • weather and conditions
  • avalanche avoidance
  • emergency shelters
  • ropework
  • moving together
  • winter belays etc

Every day includes a genuine mountaineering objective, to allow you to practice new found skills for real under expert guidance.

scottish winter mountaineering course
 
Food and Accommodation
We run all of our courses on a guiding & instruction only basis. Food and accommodation must be paid for seperately. A good range of recommended accommodation options around Fort William are provided with your joining instructions.
 
Ability and Experience
As with most mountain activities, scottish winter mountaineering can be hard work (see fitness level 2-3). Good basic fitness, but no previous winter experience is necessary. Some rope work or belay skills are useful if you aspire to climb at the higher grades.
 
Equipment
All communal safety equipment (ropes etc) is provided by us. You are expected to come equiped with personal clothing and equipment. For the more specialist items (harness, helmet, ice axe, crampons and boots) hire is available locally if needed.
 
     
 
 
 
         
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