Advanced winter mountaineering
3 DAYS
Refine and develop your winter mountaineering techniques. This course is technical mountaineering; wearing harnesses and using ropes. You will often be moving as a rope team on graded mountaineering terrain and learning all the skills for safety.
Tackle winter ridge traverse, snow gullies and scrambles up to grade II.
Our courses are based predominately in The Cairngorms for more reliable for snow and ice conditions. We may make use of Ben Nevis and Glen Coe or Torridon on your course should conditions allow and routes be suitable for your ability.
3 DAYS
PRICES:£550pp
£200 deposit secures your booking
OVERVIEW
This 3 day winter mountaineering course is designed to help the winter mountaineer progress into steeper terrain such as open snow slopes, easy gullies, scrambling and winter ridges, up to grade II.
This course is all about technical mountaineering, wearing harnesses and using ropes. You will often be moving as a rope team on graded mountaineering terrain and learning all the skills for safety as you go.
We hope to develop skills to allow access into graded mountaineering ground, up to grade II when covered in snow and ice, giving you the technical knowledge to understand how to remain safe in this dynamic environment; we will be looking at good movement skills, decision making, judgement of the terrain and any methods of safeguarding such as knots, belaying, rope work and snow anchors & trad gear in winter.
We are hoping to help you progress onto graded mountaineering ground - grade I/II/III terrain. We will be looking at moving as a rope team over this terrain and hope to tackle routes such as:
Ledge Route
Aonach Eagach
Fiaciall Ridge
Curved Ridge
East Ridge of Beinn a Chaorainn
Liathach
Horns of Alligin
Tower Ridge
COURSE OUTLINE
Gear and Equipment
Essential winter clothing, climbing boots, crampons and axes.
Proper fitting of C2 crampons and other winter-specific gear
Route Planning and Avalanche Awareness
Identifying potential avalanche terrain and safe route selection.
Introduction to basic avalanche awareness and safety protocols.
Movement on steeper snow slopes
Look at using the boot as a tool, using the edges of the boot and kicking steps for security in steep, snowy ground.
Ice axe technique - for security and balance on steeper terrain and for cutting steps to aid movement up and down the slope
Snow and Ice Climbing Techniques
Safe movement on snow-covered slopes, including ascending and descending.
Use of crampons for front pointing, axes for swinging; hooking and torquing.
One axe techniques for scrambling and easy mixed terrain
Winter scrambling techniques.
Snow Anchors
Bucket seats, buried ice axes, & snow bollards - using them for ascent and descent
Ice screws and their placement and using them for runners and belays
Rock gear in winter and utilising it for winter scrambles
Avalanche Awareness
To stay safe and develop understanding of a hazardous and dynamic landscape. We will look at weather forecasting, avalanche reports and observations of the snow in the real world when out on the hill
Winter navigation
All those summer features become covered by snow; practice on a different scale map and winterise your navigation; looking at appropriate techniques and gaining confidence to navigate in white out conditions
We will look to complete some grade I/II winter scrambles/climbs. We will guide you on technical scramble and consolidate all of skills on classic routes - moving as a rope team and using our mountaineering skills. At least one day will go to the west coast (Ben Nevis, Glen Coe or Torridon).
BY THE END OF THE COURSE, YOU CAN EXPECT TO
Be able to look after yourself in steeper winter mountaineering terrain,
Understand your kit and its limitations in the winter environment,
Be more confident in ice axe and crampon techniques,
Understand snow belays and rope work for steep snow slopes,
Be a more confident navigator,
Be in a strong position to climb grade II winter mountaineering terrain such as gullies, ridges and steep snow slopes
YOU WILL NEED
You will need to wear suitable clothing for winter mountaineering, including a full set of waterproofs, warm layers, hat & gloves, ski goggles and winter mountaineering boots.
These boots should be rigid and rated to B1/B2 standard (we can advise during the booking stage).
Boots can be hired from LDM, subject to sizes and availability of our stocks.
We can provide crampons, ice axe, helmets and other technical equipment.
WHY CHOOSE US?
Qualified Instructors:
Our instructors hold the WMCI qualification, the highest award for climbing and mountaineering in the UK.
Practical Application:
We believe in hands-on learning. Our course includes extensive practical exercises, allowing participants to immediately apply what they've learned in real-world situations.
Small Group Sizes:
We maintain small class sizes to ensure focussed attention and ample opportunity for questions, discussions, and where possible one-on-one guidance.
Positive Learning Environment:
We foster a supportive and encouraging learning environment where participants can feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and building confidence in their abilities.
Quality Equipment for Hire:
We can provide B2 boots for a small fee, as well as ice axes, crampons and helmets. All of these are high quality and selected from premium outdoor brands, making sure you have a safe course with the best kit.
Course Ratios
1:2 Ratio - 2 people per 1 instructor
Our instructors can teach up to 2 people on this course.
This course is open to the public and has 4 spaces per course.
Minimum 2 people to run
We can provide additional instructors so if courses are full then please still enquire.
1:2 ratio on the final day for a mountaineering journey,.
Pre-Requisites
18+
Experience of hill walking in summer conditions.
Some basic winter walking or a winter skills is beneficial to help get the most from the programme.
You will need to be fit enough to be able to walk in the snow carrying a rucksack. Ben Nevis walk ins are around 2 hours in duration.
Please contact us to discuss regarding any queries
Equipment
All technical equipment can be provided & hired from LDM.
Crampons & axes can be hired for the course
You will need to wear suitable outdoor clothing and have appropriate mountain footwear
(B1/B2 boots - these are rigid to take crampons)
We have a selection of boots to hire subject to sizes and availability
Boot hire is £10 per pair, per day
Venue
Our venues are carefully selected and tailored to get the most out of the programme.
On the day, we will meet you at Tiso, in the Explorer cafe for meet and greet. We will then look to organise your equipment.
The course is based predominately in the Cairngorms but will head to Ben Nevis/Glen Coe or even Torridon to make use of routes/conditions - we can transport you over each day
Not quite what you're looking for?
Hire our Lake District Mountaineering instructors for private and tailored programmes.
Suited to your goals & ambitions to make the most of YOUR time in the mountains.
Day rates:
1:1 £270
1:2 £150pp
