Steep Ground Refresher | Rope Work Skills for ML | CPD for MTA Members

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

VIEW DATES

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Building Basic Belays:

Practise setting up basic belays for short, steep sections using natural anchors. Focus on reliable systems that reflect assessment expectations.

Leadership & Communication in Exposed Terrain:

Practise coaching movement, offering reassurance, and communicating clearly with individuals in steep, committing terrain.

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.

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?

Mountain Leader trainees preparing for assessment who want to refine their decision-making in steep ground
Those looking to build confidence with rope-work and movement strategies in realistic terrain
Candidates who have completed ML training and want focused consolidation on challenging ground
Individuals seeking clarity on when and how to use a rope within the ML syllabus
Anyone who feels uncertain about anchor selection, safeguarding, or terrain judgment
Trainees wanting honest, practical feedback and coaching at the ML standard

SKILLS COVERED:

Understand aims and objectives
Leadership in the scheme – vision, support, challenge
Movement and walking skills & coaching points for pace, rhythm, foot placement, conservation of energy, balance, and coordination.
Group management
Route finding and terrain selection
Spotting and its limitations
Considerations for briefings and safe attachment to the rope
Direct and Indirect rope techniques
Anchor selection
Managing people up and down steep ground with the rope
Confidence roping where appropriate
Feedback and debriefs
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

24th

September 2025

BOOK NOW

If you are a looking to undertake a private workshop, then get in touch and we can help run a refresher bespoke to you

(1-1 £200 | 1-2 £250)

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

Join MTA

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

RETURN QUALIFICATION COURSES

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ML PREP - 2 DAY COURSE

ML REFRESHER- NIGHT NAVIGATION

MOUNTAIN LEADER ASSESSMENT

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.

www.mountain-training.org

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.

Our Ethos - Click here to view

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.

Reasonable Adjustment Guidance