En-suite bedrooms from £60pn. Book your course and then call us to book your accommodation
Find Out MoreWinter Mountaineering (5 days)
Learn LEVEL | 5 day(s) | Ratio 1:4
Overview
Have you ever fancied tackling some of the UK’s classic mountain days in winter but been worried about how to handle steeper snowy/icy rocky steps? Have you ever been on a winter walking day out and turned around at a difficult point? Or maybe you want to get up mountains in winter but not necessarily by the easiest route. Any ground which would be ‘Hands out of pockets’ terrain in summer turns into winter mountaineering territory. Essentially a summer scramble, but in the winter! If you lack the confidence or experience to embrace this, then considering a winter mountaineering course could unlock a whole world of stunning winter experiences for you and your friends. 5 days allows us the time to cover a variety of areas and venues.
DETAILED INFO
AIMS
To introduce you to the technical skills to tackle winter ‘scrambling’ type terrain, up to grade I/II on Britain’s mountains.
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?
Develop an in-depth practical knowledge of all the skills required to tackle winter ‘scrambling’ type terrain, up to grade I/II, on Britain’s mountains. It makes the assumption that you have good solid core winter movement skills e.g. use of an ice axe in both ascent/descent as well as crampons. To get the most from this course previous summer scrambling experience would be useful. Previous winter walking experience (including use of axe and crampons) is essential.
CONTENT
You will usually be in a group of no more than four 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:
- Re-visiting core winter movement skills using axe and crampons in ascent and descent.
- In-depth practice on movement skills over grade I/II winter snow and ‘scrambling’ type terrain.
- Use of a climbing harness & rope.
- Constructing and using snow anchors (such as buried axe, snow bollard and Deadman).
- Selecting and using natural rock anchors.
- Abseiling using snow anchors.
- Avalanche awareness and risk assessment and it’s implications for safe route choice.
- Winter navigation.
Evening lecture topics may include winter hazards, winter navigation and avalanche awareness.
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
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.
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
ON YOUR LAST DAY
Check out time is 10am on the final day of your booking, we have changing areas, showers and left luggage facilities on site. All courses will finish by 5pm.
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
- 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
- Goggles
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. 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.
