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Winter Mountain Leader Assessment

Qualify LEVEL | 5 day(s) | Ratio 1:4

Overview

If you want to lead groups of hill walkers in winter conditions, look no further than the Winter Mountain Leader. This qualification builds on the skills learnt through the Mountain Leader scheme to prepare you for the complexities associated with taking people out walking in winter conditions in the UK.

You will learn how to safely lead and provide basic skills instruction to parties on hill walks within the UK under winter conditions.

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DETAILED INFO

AIMS

You should be familiar with the syllabus and guidance notes contained in the Winter Mountain Leader Award Handbook provided by MTS.

PRE-REQUISITES

Before you book onto a Winter Mountain Leader assessment, make sure you have done the following:

  • You must have attended a Winter Mountain Leader training course (or have been granted exemption)
  • You must be familiar with the syllabus
  • You must have logged a minimum of 40 Winter Quality Mountain Days, with at least 20 of them gained in Scotland, over a period of at least 3 winter seasons
  • You must have completed and logged at least 10 Grade I (or above) named UK winter climbs or equivalent mountaineering routes
  • You must have physically attended and completed (i.e. not online) a first aid course which involved at least two full days or sixteen hours of instruction and included an element of assessment.  You will be deferred if you cannot produce a valid, original copy of your first aid certificate. Your completed Home Paper which is part of this document WML Assessment Homepaper.

CONTENT

You will find a detailed programme in the Course Documentation below, please note that the programme is provisional. This programme should be viewed in conjunction with the MTS Guidance Notes & Prospectus and Syllabus. Although the course is divided, with certain days concentrating on specific aspects, the assessment looks at your overall performance over 5 days. It is not viewed as a modular type of assessment.

Step 1

Book your course place online

Step 2

Call to book accommodation. Prices from £60pn

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USEFUL INFORMATION

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

Instruction

Use of kit

Packed lunch and afternoon tea each day

In-course transport

WHAT'S INCLUDED IF YOU CHOOSE THE RESIDENTIAL OPTION - AS ABOVE PLUS

Accommodation in an en-suite bedroom.

Breakfast on each course day

Dinner on each course day (except the final day, and on one day or back-to-back courses).

Use of the facilities at Glenmore Lodge.

Linen is provided along with a towel, you may wish to bring an extra towel if you would like to use the facilities.

NEED TO KNOW

WHAT WILL I NEED

YOU WILL NEED (Glenmore Lodge can provide if required)

  • Waterproof jacket and trousers
  • Insulated synthetic jacket with hood
  • Winter Boots
  • Gaiters
  • Crampons
  • Ice Axe
  • Helmet
  • 40lt rucksack
  • Walking poles

EQUIPMENT YOU NEED TO BRING WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE IN THE STORES

What will you need to bring? Listed here are the essentials; this is not an exhaustive list.

  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping mat
  • Bivi bag
  • Stove & fuel
  • Personal clothing
  • Winter outdoor wear
  • Insulating layers
  • Winter climbing / mountaineering trousers
  • Hat & gloves, several pairs of.
  • Whistle
  • Compass – Silva type 4 recommended with a 1:40,000 romer ***
  • Waterproof map case.
  • Headtorch
  • Rucksack liner (or sturdy bin liner) / dry bags
  • Hydration system (water bottle / flask)
  • Box or bag for packed lunch.
  • Personal first aid kit
  • Personal toiletries & medications (towels are provided)
  • Suncream & sun hat

Map information – we encourage everyone on mountain courses to have a map covering the Northern Cairngorms with a 10km radius from the ski area. There are now a range of scales and maps available OS 1:50,000, OS 1:25,000 and Harvey Map 1:40,000. For candidates on any NGB course such as Mountain Leader winter, you should have a 1:50,000 map and ideally one other scale. For non-qualification courses any scale is fine, OS 1:50,000 map sheet 36 covers the widest area, but the Harvey 1:40,000 has a lot of additional information on the back of it, however it is useful to have the Silva Mark 4 compass with the 1:40,000 scale on it. If you have digital mapping and can print off map sheets a suggested area would be:

NW corner NH8514         NE corner NJ0314

SW corner NN8593          SE corner NO0393

Glenmore Lodge will provide any technical equipment required on a skills course e.g. climbing ropes and racks. However it would be expected that students attending any climbing NGB courses will have their own technical equipment other than ropes which Glenmore Lodge will provide.

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