Introduction to winter mountaineering

The Introductory Winter Mountaineering course is Ideal for those with no previous winter hill walking or mountaineering experience, or those who want to refresh winter skills. It will provide the skills to enjoy the UK mountains in winter snow conditions, or to join one of our overseas expedition or courses graded 1 or 2 such as Mera Peak, Kazbek, Ecuador Volcanoes, Aconcagua, Lobuche, Island Peak, Mexican Volcanoes.

Our courses are based in the mountains around Glencoe and Fort William (Ben Nevis) which normally provides some of the best and most reliable winter snow & ice conditions in Britain during the months of January to the end of March and beyond.

Previous Experience

For the Introductory Winter Mountaineering Course you should have a good level of fitness and summer mountain walking experience with the ability to enjoy good long summer mountain walks with a minimum of 3000ft/1000m of ascent over a mixture of terrain including steep broken rocky ground in ascent and decent.

If you wish to build up to this course, then consider joining:
Lake District Summer Courses booked at www.amblesideadventure.co.uk - Guided Walks
or www.adventurepeaks.com - Mountain Journeys

Introduction to winter mountaineering - Outline itinerary

During the course our instructors will aim to develop your skills to help make you confident in the use of crampons and ice axe combined with some basic ropework to allow you to move safely in the winter mountains. The exact programme will be dependent on the weather, ground conditions and progress of the group, but typically we would aim to cover the following:

• Winter Equipment & Clothing
• Use of ice axe and crampons
• Ice axe arrest
• Basic Ropework and Belaying
• Snow anchors
• Basic winter mountain navigation and route planning
• Winter weather and avalanche avoidance
• Ascent of some classic Munro ridges including Ben Nevis

Day 1: The course begins at 8pm on the first evening with a course briefing and the essentials for clothing and equipment. After the course briefing, we will check your personal kit and issue you with any hire kit required.

Day 2: The first mountain day will develop your skills to move safely and efficiently on snow covered terrain with the use of crampons and ice axe including ice axe arrest. In the evening there will be a short lecture on avalanche avoidance and prediction.

Day 3: A mountain journey over one or more Munros (Scottish mountains over 3000ft) to give you the opportunity to practice skills.

Day 4: Today we will introduce the rope as part of a mountain day to cover the basic ropework and belaying techniques required to safeguard the group up steep mountain terrain or a simple gully. This will include the understanding and use of snow anchors to secure the rope.

Day 5 and 6 – (for those doing the longer course): We continue to practice skills on steeper mountain days to give a more in depth understanding of how to travel safely on differing Snow & Ice terrain.

4 Day Courses - run Friday evening to Monday afternoon (4.30pm) giving three quality mountain days.

6 Day Course - run Friday evening to Wedesday afternoon (4.30pm) giving five quality mountain days.

(The final day would be in the Glencoe valley allow the possibility of a quick exit for those needing to depart early. You would be back at the minibus car park or your own car pre at 4pm) from where it is approx. 2 hrs in normal traffic to Glasgow airport.

You can book Private Guiding for any number of additional days.

Typical Days:

may include ascents such as:

• Ben Nevis via the Carn Mor Dearg Arete
• Stob Coire Nan Lochan via the North East Ridge
• Ballachullish Horseshoe
• Bidean Nam Bian
• The North ridge of Stob Ban and the Mamore’s

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until you have verified that your course is confirmed to run.

Accommodation is booked from the night of your arrival with instruction starting the following morning. Check out is normally the morning of your final day unless you have booked an additional night. This is booked on a twin room basis: however single rooms will be provided where there is not a member of the same sex to share with. Single rooms and additional nights can be requested at an extra cost.

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