Scottish Winter Skills Course - 2 Day | Lake District Mountaineering

winter Mountain skills

(Winter Walking)

cairngorms (2 days)

This 2 day course allows time for skills to be refined and a mountain journey to be achieved in the high mountains on the second day, allowing further consolidation of new skills.

This is a mountain skills course primarily, with a focus on the skills needed to operate in adverse weather conditions, navigate effectively and be safe on the high mountains in winter.

2 DAY COURSE

PRICES:£200pp

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This Winter Mountain Skills Course is designed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate and thrive in the winter mountains. This means equipping you with the knowledge to be safe in snow and ice environments. It emphasises practical application, builds understanding of mountain preparedness and dealing with emergencies on the hill.

The course will focus on winter equipment, its uses and practical application along side avalanche knowledge and route planning for winter environments.

The second day of the course is there for a mountain journey to be undertaken and hopefully tick off a winter Munro. A journey may include gaining the summit of Cairn Gorm, Ben Macdui or a traverse of the Norther Corries, allowing all of our skills and practical knowledge to be refined and practiced.

COURSE OUTLINE

Gear and Equipment

Essential winter clothing, footwear, and equipment for cold environments.

Proper fitting of crampons, use of ice axes, and other winter-specific gear if appropriate to conditions

Navigation Essentials

Map reading and compass skills for effective navigation in poor weather

Understanding snow-covered terrain and its effect on navigation

Route Planning and Avalanche Awareness

Identifying potential avalanche terrain and safe route selection.

Introduction to basic avalanche awareness and safety protocols.

Snow and Ice Techniques

Safe movement on snow-covered slopes, including ascending and descending.

Use of crampons, ice axes, and other winter-specific equipment.

(all conditions dependent)

Emergencies on the hill

Techniques for insulating and staying warm in a winter environment.

Emergency Procedures and group shelters

How to call Mountain Rescue

SKILLS COVERED

Planning

Gear, equipment and clothing

Reading the weather

Walking and movement skills

Navigation skills for poor visibility

Winter kit admind

Looking after yourself in bad weather

Emergency procedures

In Snowy Conditions:

Movement on snow

Ice axe technique

Crampons

Ice Axe Braking/Self arrest

Avalanche awareness

Winter navigation

BY THE END OF THE COURSE, YOU CAN EXPECT TO

Be able to look after yourself in poor weather,

Understand your kit and its limitations in the winter environment,

Be more confident in ice axe and crampon techniques,

Be a more confident navigator,

Understand avalanche forecasts and basic snow conditions,

Be safe in the winter mountains

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?

Expert Instructors:

Our course is led by experienced instructors with a deep understanding of the Lake District winter environment.. They are dedicated to providing high-quality instruction and ensuring each participant gains a solid foundation of skills..

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 navigation 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.