Progress with structure
Mountain & Leadership Mentoring
Sometimes the next step isn't another standalone course. You need to understand where you are now, what experience is missing and where to focus your time. LDM Mentoring combines experience and DLOG review, individual development planning, regular check-ins and practical opportunities within the wider LDM programme. Depending on the level you choose, that can include private coaching, focused workshops and suitable shadowing opportunities.
Two structured start dates each year - 1 March and 1 September. Development Reviews are available year-round.
Why mentoring
A programme built around your development
The aim isn't to give you more days simply for the sake of doing more days. We start by looking at your current experience, goals and direction. From there we identify the areas that would make the biggest difference and build a realistic development plan around them.
For Mountain Leader candidates that might mean navigation, Quality Mountain Days, leadership, steep ground, expedition experience or assessment preparation. For someone progressing further into climbing or mountaineering qualifications, the focus may be different.
Your development plan can then connect with the wider LDM ecosystem - courses, ML Development workshops, private coaching and suitable programme days - so the different parts of your experience actually work together.
Your progression
Choose the level of support you need
Mentoring follows a simple path: understand where you are, agree where you're heading, then build the skills and judgement to get there.
How it works
How mentoring fits with the LDM programme
Mentoring does not create a separate diary of courses. Instead, it helps clients use the existing programme more intelligently.
Mentoring and the Mountain Leader pathway
For Mountain Leader candidates, mentoring sits particularly naturally between Training and Assessment. After ML Training there can be a long consolidation period. Rather than treating that as an undefined gap, mentoring provides structure around it.
An individual plan might connect with:
- ML Expedition Skills, Leadership & Wild Camp
- ML Navigation & Night Navigation
- ML Mock Assessment Day
- ML Leadership & Group Management in Steep Ground
- ML Steep Ground & Emergency Ropework
- ML Navigation & Setting the Standard
- Private coaching
- Suitable shadowing opportunities
Who is mentoring for?
- You have completed ML Training and are unsure what to prioritise before Assessment.
- Your DLOG has plenty in it, but you are unsure whether the quality and breadth of experience are right.
- You keep booking courses without feeling that your overall development is joined up.
- You have assessment or reassessment feedback and want a focused route forward.
- You are progressing towards higher-level leadership or instructional qualifications.
- You want accountability and experienced input while still gaining most of your experience independently.
The Spring and Autumn intakes
Capacity: maximum 3 Level 2 / Level 3 clients per intake. Keeping the intake small allows the programme to remain genuinely individual rather than becoming another generic group course.
| Intake | Dates | How it connects |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Starts 1 March | Connects with the spring ML Development programme, April/ |
| Autumn | Starts 1 September | Connects with the September/ |
Practical delivery
Practical days, workshops and shadowing
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Private development day
Where a package includes a practical day, it is arranged within LDM's published Private Availability. The content is built around the client's development plan rather than following a fixed syllabus.
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Workshop places
Included workshops are selected from appropriate existing LDM programme dates. We recommend the sessions that best match the areas identified in the client's plan. Workshop choice remains subject to relevance and programme availability.
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Shadowing
Shadowing is arranged case by case. It must be educationally useful and appropriate for the course, group, instructor, ratios and relevant provider requirements. It is a learning opportunity rather than a guaranteed place on a particular course or date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be working towards Mountain Leader?
No. The programme can support wider mountain, climbing and instructional development. The exact focus is agreed around your goals and existing experience.
Do I need an existing DLOG?
Not necessarily, although DLOG review becomes particularly useful for people working towards Mountain Training qualifications.
Do the workshop and shadowing days have to be chosen when I join?
No. It makes more sense to establish your development needs first and then select appropriate opportunities from the programme.
Can I choose any private coaching date?
You can give us preferred dates, but practical days are arranged within available LDM Private Availability and are confirmed once the diary has been checked.
Is a shadowing day guaranteed on a particular course?
No. Shadowing is agreed where it is educationally useful and appropriate for the course, instructor, group and relevant provider requirements.
What if I only need advice on what to do next?
Start with the Development Review. You can take the resulting plan away and work through it independently; there is no requirement to move onto a longer mentoring package.
Get started
Enquire About Mentoring
Tell us a little about where you are now and what you'd like to work on. We'll get back to you to talk through the right level and next steps.
Thank you
We have your enquiry and have emailed you a copy. We will be in touch soon to talk through the right level of support and your next steps.