Course Dates:
- Sunday, 3 March to Saturday 9 March 2013
Cost: £546 - BOOK NOW
Course pre-requisites:
Some previous winter mountaineering experience and or technical scrambling skills would be useful.
The terrain on this course is often a little more challenging so being comfortable in exposed situations is important along with a good level of fitness.
Course summary:
This five-day course pushes students to refine their navigation and rope-work skills allowing them to move on to more technical and challenging terrain.
Students will use ice axes and crampons to move safely on steeper terrain and incorporate the use of the rope to pitch steeper sections of snow and ice covered terrain.
Weather permitting students will spend a night in a snow-hole (you dig it yourself!!!) and navigating on the Cairngorm plateau at night!
Students will be encouraged to develop their ability to interpret weather forecasts and hone their avalanche/snow safety skills.
Who is the course for?
This course is for those who want to move their winter experience up a gear. This course is best suited to those with some previous winter / alpine experience – previous mountaineering/scrambling skills or those perhaps planning a trip to bigger snowier peaks.
Are there any similar or related courses?
Outline programme:
| Travel Day | - Airport pick ups and transfer to Chalet
(Students make their own travel arrangements to and from Scotland.) Pick up at Edinburgh Airport at 4pm Issue and fit technical equipment |
| Day 1 | - Moving on snow
- Self arrest
- Cutting steps
- Walking with axe and crampons
- Navigation
|
| Day 2 | - Winter belay skills
- Introduction to pitched movement
|
| Day 3 | - Route plan for mini expedition
- Pack expedition kit
- Navigate to snow-hole
- Dig snow-hole and snuggle down
- Night navigation
|
| Day 4 | - Depart snow hole and navigate to base
- Including snow-craft skills
|
| Day 5 | - Pitched movement on steep mixed terrain
|
| Travel Day | - Airport transfer / drop off
Drop off to Edinburgh Airport at 12 noon |
What equipment do I need to bring?
Bring any of your own personal hillwaking outdoor clothing and kit. Such as, waterproof jacket and trousers, boots, fleece jacket, warm hat, balaclava and shell gloves, snow goggles, gaiters, head torch, flask, water bottle, Cairngorm map (1:25,000), compass Silva type 4 or similar, and spare clothes (it’s best to bring plenty of lighter layers and avoid cotton if possible as it offers little heat and takes ages to dry out if wet or sweaty).
Tollymore can supply most of the equipment you require for this course but it is preferable to use your own where possible even if it’s just a chance for your instructor to comment on your kit and give advice.
What does my course fee include?
Airport transfer, food and accommodation, equipment, in-course transport, and instruction.
Please note students must make their own travel arrangements to and from Scotland.
Useful books and resources:
- Winter Skills A Cunningham and A Fyffe
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