winter skills courses
climbing & mountaineering
Our winter skills courses are designed to offer a progressive and structured journey from winter skills to winter mountaineering on graded ground and finally onto winter climbing.
Our courses are mainly based in Scotland, to make use of more reliable winter conditions as well taking advantage of the amazing mountain terrain Scotland has to offer.
We are mainly based in the Cairngorms throughout the period but your course may make use of the west coast (Ben Nevis and Glen Coe) on some days if appropriate to do so.
Our Winter Skills are designed to build a solid foundation of winter walking skills and provide a platform for our mountaineering programme. Mountaineering includes the skills to get ready to tackle winter ridges, gullies and scrambling terrain with one axe, up to grade II.
The winter climbing is two axe climbing on snow, ice and mixed routes.
Winter Mountain Skills
(winter walking)
1 day - lake district
For hill walkers progressing into winter hiking; learn the basics of winter walking & navigation. Our focus is winter preparation; ice axe and crampons will be used and taught only if required.
Best for summer walkers looking to gain skills to be safe in the mountains in snow and ice.
Winter mountain skills
(winter Walking)
2 days - cairngorms
A course for beginner winter walkers, refine skills and head out on a mountain journey in the high mountains on the second day, allowing further consolidation of new skills.
Best for walkers looking to gain and consolidate skills to access the mountains all year round.
intro to winter mountaineering
2 days
For those that have worn crampons and used an ice axe, but want to develop winter mountaineering techniques; getting to grips with ice axes and crampons for more assured movement in steeper terrain and looking at basic rope work and snow anchors.
Best for those with winter walking experience, looking to be more assured on steep ground and winter scrambles.
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advanced winter mountaineering
3 days
This course is technical mountaineering, wearing harnesses and using ropes. You will often be moving as a rope team on graded mountaineering terrain and learning all the skills for safety.
Tackle winter ridge traverses, snow gullies and scrambles up to grade II.
Best for those that have some winter experience and want to build a foundation of technical skills for mountaineering and develop skills towards winter climbing.
intro to winter climbing
2 days
Progress your skills onto our winter climbing course and learn two axe climbing techniques such as swinging, hooking and torquing. We are looking to climb a variety of routes on snow, ice and mixed ground from grade I-IV.
Best for those that have done some winter mountaineering and/or summer trad climbing and want to climb mixed routes up to and around grade III.
Learn to lead winter climbs
3 Days
Develop your winter climbing skills and progress towards leading your first winter routes. Build your knowledge and aid your climbing progression towards independence on snow and ice.
Best for those with some winter climbing experience and summer trad skills, wanting to be independent on snow and ice climbs.
WHAT customers SAY
Just completed a 4 day Winter Skills course in the Cairngorms and we had a great time! We learnt how to use crampons/ ice axe, how to navigate in a blizzard, how to plan a route to avoid avalanches, we built snow shelters and practiced descending from a snow bollard. We had two guides during the week- both James and Alex were really friendly and excellent teachers. I learnt lots of challenging new skills but felt safe throughout the week. I now feel a lot more confident to go out and enjoy the winter mountains and I can’t wait to get my crampons on again!
I couldn't recommend this course more. As someone who wants to make the step from summer hill walking to winter this was the perfect opportunity. Sam was professional throughout and guided us through the correct safety procedures so that we could be out in the fells. It was a positive environment throughout.
I attended the 4 day winter skills course in Scotland. With the Scottish weather making the planned days difficult due to very high winds, Sam made the very best out of the conditions that we had.
Thoroughly enjoyed each day and that's because of Sam's expertise and the great way he instructed the course.
Sam's structure of teaching made it really easy to learn and put into practice everything being taught.
Sam is very patient, friendly, knowledgeable and highly professional and I would highly recommend him.
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 voicemail or text message where possible.
Thank you