Overview
Our Advanced Winter Mountaineering course is for experienced winter walkers or someone who has done one of our winter mountaineering courses and wants to re-visit and refresh their skills. The intention of this course is to prepare you for any winter mountaineering challenge your heart desires! If you aspire to climb routes like Ledge Route on Ben Nevis, the Aonach Eagach in Glencoe, Forcan Ridge in Kintail, then we will aim to skill you up for these or whatever your aspirations involve.
Run on a 1:2 ratio, we have the flexibility to maximise time on mountaineering ground and tackle the routes which will develop your skills for your mountaineering aspirations.
DETAILED INFO
AIMS
This is a winter mountaineering course for experienced winter walkers. With a ratio of two customers to an instructor, this course aims to maximise the personalised input you’ll receive. This ratio also means we can progress onto more challenging moutnaineering terrain and routes, and provides greater flexibility with the potential for the Instructor to provide some adventurous guided experiences.
Mountaineering is a broad term for the grey area between walking and climbing – this ‘Advanced’ course aims to meet the needs of those whose interests lie towards the climbing end of the spectrum. Although not a climbing course, we anticipate that by the end of the 5 days you will be familiar with techniques that cross over for more technical climbs.
You will cover all the essential content of our typical 5-day Winter Mountaineering course but with the opportunity for faster progression and a more individualised experience.
PRE-REQUISITES
Summer scrambling useful, winter hill walking essential. You should already be comfortable in the use of crampons and ice axe before attending this course.
IS IT FOR ME?
If you’re looking to develop an in-depth practical knowledge of all the skills required for epic winter mountaineering adventures in Britain’s mountains, this is the perfect experience. You’ll be looking to build on a solid base of core winter movement skills, and already know how to use an ice axe in both ascent/descent as well as crampons. You’ll be looking to unlock new winter mountain experiences on grade I/II routes.
CONTENT
The content of this course is similar to the 5 Day mountaineering course, however the 1:2 ratio (one instructor to two customers), will have a big influence on our delivery, allowing for more individualized learning and the potential to get on an expanded range of challenging routes. You’ll meet your instructor on the first morning of the course and discuss your experience and aspirations, which they’ll use to plan the rest of the course. The main topics to be covered are:
- Establishing core winter movement skills using axe and crampons in ascent and descent.
- Introduction to movement skills over grade I/II winter snow and ‘scrambling’ type terrain.
- Mountaineering equipment, ropes, harnesses, rock protection, and snow and ice equipment.
- Constructing and using snow anchors such as bucket seats, buried axe, snow bollard and Deadman).
- Selecting and using natural rock anchors.
- Abseiling using snow anchors.
- Route planning, route finding, guidebook use.
- Further skills development and consolidation while on mountaineering routes, developing decision making.
- Avalanche awareness, risk assessment and implications for safe terrain choice.
- Winter navigation.
This programme will be flexible, enabling the instructor to adapt to the conditions, weather, your experience and aspirations.
We also provide evening lectures, free to attend, that cover essential topics such as winter hazards and emergency procedures, winter navigation, and avalanche awareness.
DATES & PRICES
| 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COURSE DATE | COST (no accommodation) |
PLACES | BOOKING | |
| Date20/01/25 | Cost (no accommodation)£985.00 | Places | ||
| Date24/02/25 | Cost (no accommodation)£985.00 | Places | ||
| Need a different date? Call 01479 861 256 to arrange your own date, or email [email protected] | ||||
USEFUL INFORMATION
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
Instruction
Use of kit
Packed lunch and afternoon tea each day
In-course transport
NEED TO KNOW
WHAT WILL I NEED
YOU WILL NEED (Glenmore Lodge can provide if required)
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Insulated synthetic jacket with hood
- Winter Boots
- Gaiters
- Crampons
- Ice Axe
- Helmet
- Climbing harness
- 40lt rucksack
- Walking poles
EQUIPMENT YOU NEED TO BRING WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE IN THE STORES
What will you need to bring? Listed here are the essentials; this is not an exhaustive list.
- Personal clothing
- Winter outdoor wear
- Insulating layers
- Winter climbing / mountaineering trousers
- Hat & gloves, several pairs of.
- Whistle
- Compass – Silva type 4 recommended with a 1:40,000 romer ***
- Waterproof map case.
- Headtorch
- Rucksack liner (or sturdy bin liner) / dry bags
- Hydration system (water bottle / flask)
- Box or bag for packed lunch.
- Personal first aid kit
- Goggles
Map information – we encourage everyone on mountain courses to have a map covering the Northern Cairngorms with a 10km radius from the ski area. There are now a range of scales and maps available OS 1:50,000, OS 1:25,000 and Harvey Map 1:40,000. If you have digital mapping and can print off map sheets a suggested area would be:
NW corner NH8514 NE corner NJ0314
SW corner NN8593 SE corner NO0393
Glenmore Lodge will provide any technical equipment required on a skills course e.g. climbing ropes and racks.
