Overview
The main focus of the two days is on introducing you to the main core skills required to lead winter climbs at Grade I/II confidently and competently. Participants will have an opportunity to lead climbs at an appropriate grade and must be aware of the inherent risk involved in winter lead climbing and be prepared to accept some responsibility for their own safety. This is a physically demanding winter course, to get the most from the course, regular experience of leading graded rock climbs (including multi-pitch routes of at least VDiff/Severe), plus ‘Winter Mountaineering’ experience is essential.
DETAILED INFO
AIMS
To develop a safe and competent approach to leading a variety of winter climbs at Grade I/II.
PRE-REQUISITES
This is a physically demanding winter course, to get the most from the course, regular experience of leading graded rock climbs (including multi-pitch routes of at least VDiff/Severe), plus ‘Winter Mountaineering’ experience is essential.
IS IT FOR ME?
The main focus of the two days is on introducing you to the main core skills required to lead winter climbs at Grade I/II confidently and competently. Participants will have an opportunity to lead climbs at an appropriate grade and must be aware of the inherent risk involved in winter lead climbing and be prepared to accept some responsibility for their own safety. This is a physically demanding winter course, to get the most from the course, regular experience of leading graded rock climbs (including multi-pitch routes of at least VDiff/Severe), plus ‘Winter Mountaineering’ experience is essential.
CONTENT
You will usually be in a group of no more than two with one instructor. 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)
- Developing winter lead climbing strategies
- Avalanche awareness and its implications for safe route choice
- Winter navigation
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.
DATES & PRICES
| 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COURSE DATE | COST (no accommodation) |
PLACES | BOOKING | |
| Date11/01/25 | Cost (no accommodation)£420.00 | Places | ||
| Date15/01/25 | Cost (no accommodation)£420.00 | Places | ||
| Date22/01/25 | Cost (no accommodation)£420.00 | Places | ||
| Date29/01/25 | Cost (no accommodation)£420.00 | Places | ||
| Date01/02/25 | Cost (no accommodation)£420.00 | Places | ||
| Date22/02/25 | Cost (no accommodation)£420.00 | PlacesFULL | Contact Us | |
| Date01/03/25 | Cost (no accommodation)£420.00 | Places | ||
| Date05/03/25 | Cost (no accommodation)£420.00 | Places | ||
| Date08/03/25 | Cost (no accommodation)£420.00 | Places | ||
| Need a different date? Call 01479 861 256 to arrange your own date, or email [email protected] | ||||
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USEFUL INFORMATION
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
Instruction
Use of kit
Packed lunch and afternoon tea each day
In-course transport
DOCUMENTS
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
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 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.
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
