Scottish Winter Courses 2022

24.02.2022

Chris was out on the Intro to climbing  they managed to get the full four seasons or maybe there is even a 5th season of Scottish Winter on the West face of Gearr Aonach – learning to lead, setting up belays and safeguarding another climber,  as well as avalanche assessment on a day where risk was rated as “High”   they then managed to find some shelter in Moonlight gully on Ben Nevis

24.02.2022

Gavin was out last weekend covering on our weekend meet and Winter Skills Course.  The next weekend meet will be here in the Lake District on the 14th and 15th of May.

18.02.2022

Winter Expedition Skills course – Day 1 hiked up Glen Nevis to camp near the lochain near Stob Ban and lots of snow overnight. Day 2 was excellent weather, the day for photos! Very bright clear windless morning, so we spent the morning practising ice axe, crampon and movement skills. After a brief lunch we ascended the Monro Sgurr an Lubhair in a South to North Traverse, upon return we had a short practice with rope skills. The bright weather day was made more memorable by the following night holding onto the tent. Day 3 after early breakfast saw us packing up the tents in the rain and slightly diminish wind. A very wet walk out with the burn in spate had us all with wet feet. After arriving back at the hotel we spent the afternoon practising jumaring and abseiling on a nearby crag.

08.2.2022

Our Intro to Snow and Ice course learning  Climbing techniques on Zigzags, and learning Ropework Gearr Aonach and on Meall a Bhuiridh

01.02.2022

Chris has been out this week on the Intro to Snow & Ice, so far they have battled through 70mph winds to find shelter high on Meall a Bhuiridh  – he who dares!!

They then were in No. 5 Gully as the storm built above them on The Ben but have really seenprogression as Andy and Gavin alternate lead the whole of No. 3 Gully on Ben Nevis as an independent climbers!

26.01.22

Mountaineers in No. 3 Gully yesterday:

21.01.22

Fantastic pictures through from Chris on the Introduction to Snow & Ice Course Climbing No. 3 Gully on Ben Nevis in fantastic condition, including placing several ice screws then climbed down No. 4 Gully.

21.01.22

Winter Expedition Skills Course – despite temperatures of 8c and days of warm rain, the team dug a snow hole as they’d hoped!

18.01.22

Yesterday the team on the Introduction to Snow and Ice Course climbed the north face of Stob Coire nan Lochaine,  amazing temperature inversion and blue skies all day.  Chris said it  felt very Alpine!

15.1.22 Chris is out leading on the Intro to Snow and Ice course

First day they climbed  No. 2 Gully in Ben Nevis – lots of snow and ice.

Day 2 climbing on West Face Aonach Mor

15.01.22 Our Winter Expeditions skills were out near Glencoe

12.01.2022  Day 4 Pictures from the Winter Mountaineering course on the East Ridge of Bienn a Chaorainn – where the team practiced multi pitch climbing techniques and moving together.  And Day 5 on Coire nan Lochain gully climbing and setting up belays, and then some ice to practice front pointing and climbing with 2 axes!

Saturday 08.01.2022

Day 1 of the second Winter Mountaineering Course of the season – the team have been on Buachaille Etive Beag doing intro to ice axe and crampons skills and an ascent of the Munro Stob Dubh.

Friday 07.01.2022

Winter Walking Skills course – John has sent through these photos from the last few days. Having done some skills training they have spent the past couple of days putting their skills into practice enjoying days out in the mountains.

Winter Mountaineering course
Winter skills training using bucket seats, snow bollards and ice axe belays.

04.01.2022

This week sees the start of our Scottish Winter Courses.  The snow arrived right on cue.

Course Director Chris is out on the first day of the Winter Mountaineering Course.  

Winter Summits Course 

John has sent these pictures in from day 1 of the Winter Summits Course

Find out more about our Scottish Winter Courses here