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Scottish Winter Mountaineering course

Classic winter mountaineering terrain

Are you an experienced winter walker who is keen to progress into steeper and more technical terrain to enjoy the fantastic positions that Scotland’s winter mountain environment has to offer?

Based out of Fort William and Glencoe in the West Highlands, our 3-day Scottish Winter Mountaineering Course will give you the skills needed to move safely on technical ridges and easier gullies of around Scottish Grade I to II. Learn to look after yourself and your mountaineering partner on classic routes such as Glencoe’s Aonach Eagach and Ben Nevis’ Ledge Route.

Our professional instructors will cover areas including:

• A refresher of movement skills, crampon work and ice axe use on steep ground
• A refresher of navigation skills and the assessment of avalanche risk
• Ropework for ascent and descent on Grade I terrain
• Ropework and movement on technical mountaineering ridges at around Scottish Grade II
• Ropework and movement on steeper gully lines at around Scottish Grade II

We run private courses where you pay for an instructor by the day, enabling us to run a course for as long or short a time as you want.

A 3-day course works well as an ‘intro’ to winter mountaineering skills. Longer courses are perfect if you want the opportunity to consolidate your new skills on different types of terrain under the watchful eye of a professional instructor.

Outstanding winter vistas and learning environments

A typical itinerary on a 3-day course follows. Add more days as you see fit and really get to grips with the winter environment.

Day 1 (1:4)

• Selecting and carrying the appropriate kit for the winter mountain environment
• Refresher of personal movement skills on steep ground (around Scottish Grade I)
• Refresher of ice axe use and arrest
• Core winter navigation skills, avalanche awareness and forecasting
• Creation and use of snow anchors in ascent and descent, such as buried axe belays and snow bollards

Day 2 & 3 (1:2)

• Guided winter mountaineering routes (technical ridges or gully lines, dependent on conditions
• Winter mountaineering ropework relevant to terrain (protecting rocky steps, cornices and steep snow)

Experience classic ridges on Ben Nevis

• Efficient movement and route choice
• Mountaineering decision making and risk management

Information

Dates and prices: are shown in the table below.

We run private courses so please let us know when you would like yours to run and we will do our best to fit in with your availability. If you are on your own then please let us know as we may be able to match you up with other like-minded clients.

Click here to make a booking or to find out more. You can also contact us by telephone on 07702 942980.

Spot the mountaineers on the ridge?

Ages and abilities: The winter environment can be extremely challenging, so this course is for adults only and for those who already have experience of winter walking in the high mountains of the UK. Fitness is important as days are long, approaches generally tough and packs heavy.

Group sizes and ratios: Our instructor to client ratio never exceeds 1:4 and will not exceed 1:2 on technical terrain.

Kit: We will share a kit list with you when you book, but you will need warm and waterproof clothing and ideally B2 or above crampon compatible boots and crampons. You will also need a walking/alpine axe and basic climbing kit. All kit is available to hire from a partner company. We can offer advice on all kit at booking.