Winter Expedition Skills

Winter Expedition Skills


From £580
Grade: Introductory
3 mountain days

Our Winter Expedition Skills course is based in the Glencoe area and involves 2 nights wild camping.

Winter expedition skills course

These winter expedition training courses are a great way to prepare for Himalayan and high altitude expeditions. Alongside ascending a number of summits, the course will give you a full range of skills training: crampons and ice axe, packing light, camping in snow, using fixed lines, snow holes and much more. Our leaders have experience of multiple expeditions around the world. Tents and specialist equipment provided. On two of the days you should be prepared to carry 20kg for 2-3 hours per day.

The mountains around Glencoe and Ben Nevis provide some of the best and most reliable winter walking and climbing conditions in Britain suitable for beginner and expert alike. It is the perfect training ground for mountaineering in the Alps or Greater Ranges.

Winter Expedition Skills - Outline itinerary

Day 1: On the first evening there will be an informal meeting with a member of the Adventure Peaks team to chat through the course and check your personal kit and issue you with any hire kit required. Overnight in hotel.

Day 2: The first day will involve a 2-3 hour walk into a wild camping area where we deposit the majority of our kit. We then spend the rest of the day developing your skills to move safely and efficiently on snow covered terrain as well as what to do in the event of a slip. · Movement on snow and ice · Use of ice axe and crampons · Ice axe arrest · Using fixed lines In the evening we spend time developing winter camping and cooking skills!

Day 3: Today will give you the opportunity to practice your new skills during a mountain journey with plenty of feedback from your instructor. Time will be spent on your journey to cover. We return to the same wild camp. Winter navigation and route planning · Winter weather and avalanche avoidance · Emergency shelters/optional night in a snow hole

Day 4: A further mountain journey and depart.

Previous Experience: For the Winter Expedition Skills course all you need is a good level of fitness and enjoyment of long days on the British hills in summer.

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 or double 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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Dates & Prices

Show prices in
All prices in Euros are guide rates, not live rates
All prices in US Dollars are guide rates, not live rates

Availability

DatesAvailabilityDays Price Select
9th Jan 2025 - 12th Jan 2025 Spaces4 £580 Book Now
16th Jan 2025 - 19th Jan 2025 Spaces4 £580 Book Now
6th Feb 2025 - 9th Feb 2025 Guaranteed4 £580 Book Now
13th Feb 2025 - 16th Feb 2025 Spaces4 £580 Book Now
6th Mar 2025 - 9th Mar 2025 Spaces4 £580 Book Now

* A deposit of £200 will be required at checkout.

Extras

Extras can be added per-person when you book onto a date

ItemPrice
Single supplement on first night of Expedition skills course - 1 night - £50 £50
1 Extra night B&B - per night per person (on a twin basis) £52
1 Extra night DB&B - per night per person (on a twin basis) £77
1 Extra night B&B - £80 per night on a single basis £80

* A deposit of £200 (or the full extra price, whichever is lower) will be required at checkout for each extra added per-person on this trip

What's Included

  • Instruction by a qualified Winter Mountain Leader
  • Tents and specialised Camping Equipment
  • Transport during the course
  • 15% off the RRP of clothing and equipment purchases from Adventure Peaks shop

What's Excluded

  • Travel to Scotland
  • Evening meal on arrival and drinks (meals will be available to purchase near the Campsite on the first evening)
  • Meals for whilst camping. We will advise you of suitable food to take with you
  • Personal equipment including ice axe, crampons, sleeping bag, sleeping mat
  • Any cable car uplifts if used
  • Entry to the ice wall at the Ice Factor in the event of severe weather

Reviews

George · 5 years ago ·

John's [instructor] enthusiasm and knowledge made the whole experience very enjoyable. Very good at his job and full of knowledge which he was enthusiastic about sharing...friendly and approachable bloke who takes pride in his work. The whole course was just great. I enjoyed working with John so much I'm considering working towards my summer ML, I can't wait for the next adventure!

Emma · 5 years ago ·

Excellent instructor who was very knowledgeable and made the course interesting. Really enjoyed the course.

Bob · 6 years ago ·

The guides were great at arranging the activities considering there was no snow and ice in the region. They shared lots of their experience and gave great advice. Nothing was too much trouble. The Onich Hotel was great too. Course instructors were great chaps.

Peter · 6 years ago ·

The course instructors complemented each other well and both were excellent - knew their stuff and I felt I was pushed but always well supported. [The highlight was] waking up having camped surrounded by Scottish Munroes. Staff are always very attentive to your needs and ensure you get what you need from the experience.

Anon · 7 years ago ·

Had a fantastic time, learning some valuable skills...the whole course was run smoothly and professionally. Giles, our team leader was an excellent coach and we picked his brains for all his knowledge which he gladly passed on. Well run and well managed course, I'd definitely recommend you to anyone. The highlight was sleeping in a snow hole Saturday night and doing two peaks on the Sunday - thanks for a good weekend.

Rachael · 8 years ago ·

Your website is great - also I got a discount! Very kind and you give prompt replies. I was looking for a snow hole experience initially and looked at different companies. It look professional on the website and had good reviews and was a good price.

I thought it was good to start off at the red squirrel camp-site and the pub as we could get to know each other a little bit. I thought Clive is brilliant at placing the group considering we were at different fitness levels although it was pretty bad weather on the last day we all spelt that the instructor was making safe decisions. He was also very inclusive and the group got on really well.

Thank you so much for an amazing experience, I have had mountains in my mind since arriving back :-) we had a lovely bunch of people in our group and I think Clive was an excellent instructor.

Amanda · 9 years ago ·

A brilliant weekend with a brilliant leader. Clive was knowledgeable, informative and insightful and I love that he inspires confidence. I learned so much more than I expected. Thank you Clive!

Paul · 10 years ago ·

Hi Mike
Janet & I called in on the off chance to see you yesterday, on our way down from Scotland. It would have been nice to put a face to a name but also, I wanted to let you know how the Expedition Skills course went. In a nutshell - a lot better than the one you took! We were much more fortunate with the weather. I had an amazing time and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

We spent the first night in the Red Squirrels Campsite and then drove up to Fort William where there was more snow. Using chains, we were able to get almost to the parking area at the end of the forestry track from the Nevis Ski area. We then walked up to the CIC hut and found a suitable place to pitch the tent about 1 km further up the glen. The afternoon was spent on ice axe arrests, belaying methods in snow and making a small snow shelter.
Next day we ascended Ben Nevis via the Ledge Route, emerging through the cloud to a clear blue sky. We then walked around the head of Coire Leis and climbed Carn Mor Dearg via the arrete, finally descending directly down the valley wall to our tent. A magic day!

On the final day we covered moving on fixed lines, crevasse rescue and we constructed a larger snow shelter. We then packed away the tent and walked out to the forest track, arriving back at The Onich Hotel at about 2pm.
Rod was a superb instructor, very relaxed and so knowledgeable. Just walking along with him, he was always pointing out ways to improve techniques and commenting on the area or wildlife.

The tent was excellent for 2 and both Rod & I were very impressed with the MSR stove and pan which neither of us had used before, so efficient.
So overall, I had a thorough recap on some winter skills, learnt some new ones, coped with camping in the snow and had a magnificent mountain day!
Many thanks

Jason B · 13 years ago ·

Exactly what I had hoped for, a company to do various trips with over the coming years. Excellent service and prompt repayment as I had hired some kit. Also excellent food trout!.


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