Snow & Ice Climbing - 2009 Course Information below!
 

The Cairngorms offer some of the best and most reliable conditions for winter climbing in the UK, regularly attracting climbers from across the globe. Conditions can on occasion be harsh and challenging and you can rely on our staff to safely take you into this environment and pass on to you the skills required to operate in these conditions. The Cairngorms boasts many fantastic winter climbs of all standards many of them located in the atmospheric Northern Corries.

 There are of course also many beautiful days in the Cairngorms offering fantastic views and opportunities to snap that special photo and moments to savour.

Tollymore staff will give you an insight into the world of winter climbing, sharing their thoughts and decision making processes along the way.

Our winter courses are based in beautiful pine chalets only 5 minutes from the mountains.

Who Is This Course For?
This course is for those who want to start winter snow & ice climbing. This 5 day course introduces students to the navigation, ropework and risk assessment skills to climb safely on technical graded winter climbs. Students will use ice axes and crampons to climb safely on some of the classic Scottish winter routes. Emphasis will be placed on ropework, belays and gear placement and snow condition analysis. By the end of the week students should be moving independently on easier graded winter routes.

Course Aims
The aims of this course are:

• To develop a comprehensive level of understanding and independence in winter/snow conditions
• To learn the skills and judgement required to create sound belays in snow & ice.
• To become familiar with the use of Ice axes, hammers and crampons on snow, ice & rock.
• To learn to assess snow and weather conditions in order to make safe decisions on the hill.
• To provide an individually tailored learning experience with nationally qualified coaches and instructors

What does the Course Fee Include?
A very good question! The price includes airport pick up and drop off (do not book flights until you contact us for best options), all instruction, accommodation (check www.lodgesatbadaguish.org out to see the lodges that we use), equipment, if required and catering. Tolymore has full public liability insurance, but personal accident cover is not included.

Skills Covered
This course will provide a comprehensive level of instruction in all the necessary areas, in order to develop a level of independence.  Students will be   

Areas generally covered include:

-          Use of equipment specific to winter travel & climbing in the mountains

-          Route choice and poor visibility navigation.

-          Moving over snow and ice in the mountains.

-          Use of crampons and ice axes.

-          Snow & Ice self arrest.

-          Avalanche awareness.

-          Constructing winter belays & pitched climbing.

-          Placing runners in winter.

-          Climbing graded winter routes

Outline Programme

It is important to note that the above outline programme is a guide.  Times may vary due to weather conditions or other reasons.

Our Staff

The instructor(s) who will work with you are all highly experienced and qualified.  Tollymore prides itself in the knowledge and experience that its, full time and part time staff bring to its courses.

All Tollymore staff are active climbers, hillwalkers and mountaineers and have a huge breadth of experience across the globe.  You may well have met them in the hills in the past or will bump into them in the future on days when they are not working!

All our staff are obliged to attend annual staff updates and training courses

What do I need to bring?
The following list is a suggestion of what you should bring.  Waterproofs, walking boots and rucksacks may be borrowed from our extensive stores.  We advise you not to rush out and buy kit for the course, but use it as a chance to find out what would best suit your needs.

You should bring the following:  Walking boots (suitable for crampons), gaiters, waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers, warm outdoor wear (fleece is ideal), warm hats, winter gloves and mitts, Maps of Cairngorms, compass (Silva type 4 or similar), headtorch, plus spare battery, snow/ski goggles, sunglasses, sunscreen, day rucksack, waterproof rucksack liner (bin liner is ideal), small first aid kit, water bottle, vacuum flask, personal medication, notebook and pen, camera and film.  If you have technical equipment, please bring it along.

Tollymore Information

The Central Council for Physical Recreation opened Tollymore Mountain Centre in 1969.  In 1974, it passed to the newly established Sports Council for Northern Ireland Trust.  In 1995, Tollymore achieved the management standard BS EN ISO 9001:2000 for the quality systems it operates.   However, as part of Sports Council for Northern Ireland’s ongoing commitment to the development of the National Centre, Tollymore will be undergoing a major redevelopment, commencing in 2008.  The facilities will be improved and expanded, to ensure that Tollymore remains as an example of best practice in the provision of mountaineering, hillwalking, climbing and canoeing courses in Northern Ireland.

Accommodation
Accommodation is included in your course fee. Accommodation is in a comfortable timber chalet, set in the forest below the Cairngorms. The chalets are well appointed with large dining and lounge areas. www.lodgesatbadaguish.org has details of the accommodation.

Catering.
Your course is fully catered from supper on arrival on day 1 through to breakfast before departure on day 7; you may wish to supplement your packed lunched with additional snack food.

Transport
Transport to Scotland is not included in your course fee, however a number of low cast airlines fly to Scotland from both Dublin and Belfast airports. We will collect you from and leave you back to the airport. 
We will be collecting participants from Edinburgh airport at 3.00 p.m. on Sunday, 8th March - this will link in with a Flybe flight from Belfast (dep 1335, arr 1430) and a Ryanair flight from Dublin (1040, arr 1145).
We will also be dropping participants back to Edinburgh airport for 12.30 p.m. on Saturday 14th March - this will link in with a Flybe flight to Belfast (dep 1345, arr 1440) and a Ryanair flight to Dublin (dep 1425, arr 1525). 
You are also welcome to make youir own way to the chalets in Badaguish - we ask that you arrive after 6.00 p.m. on the 8th March and leave before 10.30 a.m. on the 14th March.

If required, we can transport heavy items to Scotland for you.

 
What next?
Having completed this course, you should have a sound understanding of basic winter climbing skills and the equipment required for safe route planning and travel.  You may decide to develop your skills further, and could look at  summer climbing courses, Scrambling Skills or some of our other courses   (See our Climbing Courses section).  Contact us to discus any of these options.

You may choose to join a hillwalking or rambling club, or join the governing body for hillwalkers, climbers and mountaineers – the Mountaineering Council of Ireland (MCI).

A full list of clubs is available from the MCI.

Useful Books
Recommended by and available from Tollymore:

Hillwalking by Steve Long (published by MLTUK)

Rockclimbing, by Libby Peter (published by MLTUK)

Additional Recommended Reading:
A Chance in a Million by Barton and Wright
Scotlands Winter Mountains by Martin Moran
 

Useful contacts:

Mountaineering Council of Ireland,
Sport HQ,
13 Joyce Way,
Parkwest Business Park,
Dublin 12.
Tel +353-1-6251115
Fax +353-1-6251116 

Email mci@eircom.net