En-suite bedrooms from £60pn. Book your course and then call us to book your accommodation
Find Out MoreIntro to Winter Climbing (2 days)
Learn LEVEL | 2 day(s) | Ratio 1:2
Overview
Winter climbing is addictive. Once you start you’ll crave the start of winter and the incredible experiences and memories you’ll create and share with like-minded people.
The 2 day course will teach you the essential skills, such as how to use technical ice axes and crampons, plan winter climbs and movement skills.
DETAILED INFO
AIMS
To develop a solid foundation in core winter climbing skills, whilst seconding a variety of winter climbs, such that you will be a competent and self-reliant second.
PRE-REQUISITES
To get the most out this course you should have some experience of summer rock climbing and winter hill walking (including using an axe and crampons).
IS IT FOR ME?
We focus on introducing you to the main core winter climbing techniques whilst seconding a variety of winter climbs. The course WILL NOT cover winter leading skills.
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:
- Recap of core winter skills, such as using ice axe and crampons, for approaching climbs
- Basic rope work (tying into multi point anchors) and belaying both leader and second
- Use of technical ice tools and crampons on a variety of mediums (rock, ice, snow, turf)
- Coaching to develop personal climbing technique on ice and mixed ground
- Escaping from winter multi pitch climbs (including abseiling from a variety of anchors).
- Avalanche awareness and its implications for safe route choice.
Evening sessions may include an avalanche awareness talk and a general interest talk.
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
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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
• Bed in shared en-suite room – available from 3pm on day before your course starts
• Breakfast
• Dinner for each course day (except one day and back-to-back courses)
• Use of the facilities at Glenmore Lodge
• Linen is provided along with a towel
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 Axes
- Helmet
- Climbing harness
- 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.
- 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, (only available since 2010).
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
Glennmore 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.
