En-suite bedrooms from £60pn. Book your course and then call us to book your accommodation
Find Out MoreClassic West Coast Ridges
Adventure LEVEL | 5 day(s) | Ratio 1:2
Overview
This course is a guided experience designed for those who wish to tackle some of the west coasts classic ridges but would like the safety of an experienced instructor from the national centre to help guide them. Weather dependent we would undertake ridges such as the Aonach Eagach in Glencoe, Curved Ridge on Buchaille Etive Mor, Ledge route on Ben Nevis etc.
DETAILED INFO
AIMS
To equip winter hill walkers with basic winter scrambling skills and enhance their ability to move confidently and safely on steep, winter mountaineering terrain.
PRE-REQUISITES
Summer scrambling useful, winter walking essential. Be comfortable in use of crampons and ice axe. A physically demanding course.
IS IT FOR ME?
To get the most from this week summer scrambling experience would be useful and previous winter walking experience is essential. A good level of fitness is essential to undertake five days on the hill.
CONTENT
This course is non-residential, and your instructor will meet you at 9am on the first morning of your course (meeting place TBC). This is one of our guided winter experience courses to allow individuals to gain mileage on routes such as Ledge route, Ben Nevis and the Aonach Eagach, Glen Coe. If you would prefer an instructional skills course, please take a look at our Winter Mountaineering course.
The main topics to be covered are:
- Re-visiting core winter movement skills using axe and crampons in ascent and descent.
- Movement over grade I/II winter snow and ‘scrambling’ type terrain.
- Avalanche awareness and risk assessment and its implications for safe route choice.
- Interpreting guide books and maps to identify routes.
- Careful route finding and route choice.
- Winter navigation.
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 for 5 days.
Based away from Glenmore Lodge, this is a non-residential course. There’s a wide range of accommodation available in the Fort William area. We recommend that you take out travel insurance to cover your accommodation costs in the unlikely event of this course being cancelled.
NEED TO KNOW
WHAT WILL I NEED
YOU WILL NEED (Glenmore Lodge can provide items starred *** if required)
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Insulated synthetic jacket with hood
- Winter Boots***
- Gaiters
- Crampons***
- Ice Axe***
- 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)
- Personal first aid kit
- Suncream & sun hat
