En-suite bedrooms from £60pn. Book your course and then call us to book your accommodation
Find Out MoreAvalanche Awareness for Mountaineers and Climbers
Learn LEVEL | 2 day(s) | Ratio 1:4
Overview
Do you have a basic understanding of avalanche awareness but feel exposed when approaching mountaineering and climbing routes? This course is two days, we feel this allows time to acquire a robust knowledge base and enough hill time to develop independence. If you would like to learn how weather influences avalanche hazard and how to use this knowledge to develop your observation skills and decision making, then this course will tick the box. In addition, if you are particularly keen to develop your skill around route selection in steeper more complex terrain then this is the correct course. We will develop your skill using the Be Avalanche Awareness guidelines from planning a mountaineering or climbing day, through journeys in mountaineering terrain and a focus on human factors and terrain choices at key places.
DETAILED INFO
AIMS
This course will develop your knowledge base and skill set using the Be Avalanche Aware guidelines. We will explain how weather influences snowpack changes, snow stability and avalanche hazard, how this knowledge increases observation skills and in turn decision making. In addition, we will use mountaineering journeys to focus on human factors awareness and terrain choice tactics on the approach to climbs.
PRE-REQUISITES
Winter walking essential. Be comfortable in use of crampons and ice axe on mountaineering terrain. If possible we will use mountaineering ground and the approach to routes so you need to be comfortable with good movement skills on steep snow.
Please watch the following video for a bit of pre-course learning prior to attending: Avalanche Awareness Lecture
IS IT FOR ME?
This course is ideal for mountaineers and climbers that visit steeper and more complex terrain and want to gain more than a basic introduction to avalanche awareness. The course will be classroom & hill based with the intention to provide enough information and practical experience to give you confidence on your mountaineering adventures. This course will also help you become an independent learner with information on how to stay current with advances in avalanche avoidance and education. The programme will take into account individual needs and aims, weather, etc.
This course is also excellent CPD for trainee or qualified Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructors
CONTENT
Meeting your instructor on the first morning provides an opportunity to discuss everyone’s experience and aspirations enabling the instructor to plan the programme based around these. The main topics to be covered are:
The Be Avalanche Aware guidelines and the Scottish avalanche context
Mountain weather and it’s influence on the snow pack
Avalanche hazard, snow stability and spatial variation
Avalanche terrain and route choice for mountaineering and climbing
Human factors
Scottish Avalanche Information Service, understanding and using the detail
Planning mountaineering and climbing routes that avoid avalanche hazard
Snow stability observation skills for mountaineers and climbers
Decision making and human factor mitigation strategies
Terrain choice in mountaineering and climbing context
Sources of continuing education and learning
The programme is fairly flexible taking into account individual needs and aims, weather, etc.
Step 1
Book your course place online
Step 2
Call to book accommodation. Prices from £60pn
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. If booking as an Individual, you will not be asked to share with a stranger.
Breakfast on each course day (except back-to-back courses).
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
Listed here are the essentials; this is not an exhaustive list.
- 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
- Survival/Bivi bag
YOU WILL NEED (Glenmore Lodge can provide if required)
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Insulated synthetic jacket with hood
- Winter Boots
- Gaiters
- Crampons
- Ice Axe
- 40lt rucksack
- Walking poles
