ml refresher
Steep ground and rope work skills for ML's
A practical one-day workshop focusing on steep ground management and emergency ropework in line with the Mountain Leader syllabus.
Develop confidence with essential knots, anchor selection, and safe use of the confidence rope - ideal preparation for assessment or consolidation after training.
Accreditation
This workshop is for Mountain Leader trainees.
MTA members gain 1 CPD point for attending
10% off this refresher when you book an LDM assessment
You can view the workshops here on Mountain Training
1 DAY COURSE
PRICES: £100pp
MTA PRICE: £85pp
COURSE OVERVIEW
A focused one-day workshop covering steep ground management and emergency ropework in line with the Mountain Leader syllabus.
This practical day is designed to develop your confidence and understanding of the key ropework skills expected at assessment, including the safe use of a confidence rope, appropriate anchor selection, and essential knots.
Ideal for those consolidating after training or preparing for assessment who want structured guidance and hands-on practice in movement, mountain judgement, and basic rope systems in steep ground terrain.
OUTLINE:
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Decision-Making in Steep Ground:
Explore how to assess terrain, judge risk, and decide the most appropriate leadership strategy - whether that’s movement coaching, spotting, or rope-work. All about justifying your decisions with clarity and confidence.
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Group Management & Leadership Under Pressure:
Manage scenarios with moving groups across steep or broken ground. Develop your ability to stay calm, lead clearly, and coach competently.
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When (and When Not) to Use Rope-work:
Focus on practical judgment: identifying situations where a rope is needed - and where it isn't. Learn to balance safety, efficiency, and appropriateness within the context of ML terrain.
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Anchor Selection & Terrain Suitability:
Work in genuine steep mountain terrain to identify suitable anchor features. Understand what makes a safe anchor and how to assess it quickly under real-world conditions.
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Core Rope-work Skills:
Revise essential knots and apply them in simple, effective safeguarding systems. Rope-work is always taught in contextual terrain, where decision making is just as important as the set ups.
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Building Basic Belays:
Practise setting up basic belays for short, steep sections using natural anchors. Focus on reliable systems that reflect assessment expectations.
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Leadership & Communication in Exposed Terrain:
Practise coaching movement, offering reassurance, and communicating clearly with individuals in steep, committing terrain.
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Understanding Assessment Expectations:
Gain insight into how assessors view steep ground decision-making, ropework use, and leadership. Align your judgment and actions with what is expected on assessment day.
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Personal Feedback & Development:
Receive individual coaching and clear, actionable feedback to help you identify areas of strength and focus for further consolidation.
WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?
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Mountain Leader trainees preparing for assessment who want to refine their decision-making in steep ground
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Those looking to build confidence with rope-work and movement strategies in realistic terrain
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Candidates who have completed ML training and want focused consolidation on challenging ground
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Individuals seeking clarity on when and how to use a rope within the ML syllabus
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Anyone who feels uncertain about anchor selection, safeguarding, or terrain judgment
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Trainees wanting honest, practical feedback and coaching at the ML standard
SKILLS COVERED:
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Understand aims and objectives
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Leadership in the scheme – vision, support, challenge
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Movement and walking skills & coaching points for pace, rhythm, foot placement, conservation of energy, balance, and coordination.
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Group management
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Route finding and terrain selection
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Spotting and its limitations
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Considerations for briefings and safe attachment to the rope
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Direct and Indirect rope techniques
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Anchor selection
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Managing people up and down steep ground with the rope
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Confidence roping where appropriate
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Feedback and debriefs
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Debriefs, goal setting and individual feedback
WORKSHOP PROVIDER CREDENTIALS:
Workshop provider: Sam Marsland (WMCI & ML course director)
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE EVENT:
Your CPD record - If you attend this event and it counts as CPD, your CPD point/s will automatically be added to your record in due course - you will not need to add it yourself.
dates
COURSE RATIOS
1:6 Ratio
Min. course size: 2
Max. course size: 6
Courses need 2 people to run
This is an open workshop designed for you to meet with other ML trainees and find other candidates to consolidate with.
Sam holds the WMCI award, is a ML Course Director and has national Mountain Training organisation requirements to run this course,
PRE-REQUISITES
18 years +
Registered and completed your ML training course.
Be a MTA member to access the benefits of:
Discounted price & 1 CPD point
None MTA can join but you won't be able to redeem your CPD points
This course is for you if you are looking to check in with your skills and gain further knowledge and understanding towards assessment for ML
EQUIPMENT
We will share a fully comprehensive kit list with you during the booking stage.
You will need to wear suitable outdoor clothing (warm and waterproof) and suitable mountain footwear (boots).
You will need all of your regular hill kit plus lunch, snacks and water for the day.
VENUE
This workshop is delivered from the Gatesgarth Farm - we will head into the Buttermere Fells from here.
Accommodation is available at both Buttermere YHA and Borrowdale YHA - they do camping too.
There are good transport links and buses running from Keswick
Here we will introduce the course outlines, planning stages and discuss our objectives
this course is accredited to mountain training
Mountain Training is the collection of awarding bodies for skills courses and qualifications in walking, climbing and mountaineering that operates across the UK and The Republic Of Ireland.
Our qualifications train and assess people to look after other people in these environments, whether that's leading a walk in the mountains, coaching in a climbing wall or teaching multi pitch rock climbing. People who hold our qualifications have been assessed at a nationally agreed standard.
Our Vision
A diverse and active outdoor society, supported by inspirational leaders, instructors and coaches.
Our Mission
To inspire, enable and develop people in walking, climbing and mountaineering through the provision of nationally and internationally recognised skills training and leadership qualifications.
Support for people
Mountain Training is committed to ensuring that everyone has equal opportunity to attend our courses. We work in close partnership with the mountaineering councils and a key strand of their work is to ensure that participation is open to all. The BMC Equity Steering Group and initiatives like Adventure for All have been central to this and are an excellent source of information.
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.
Choose from the following areas to work on, on a bespoke basis
Day rates:
1:1 £200
1:2 £250
CONTACT
We look forward to hearing from you and working towards your mountaineering ambitions and helping to achieve your goals.
Phone or WhatsApp:
07458353048
If calls are missed we will respond when possible, please leave a WhatsApp or text message so we can respond to your enquiry.
Thank you