5 Day Scottish Winter Skills: Private Guiding

This course is an opportunity to cover all the essential skills needed to operate safely in winter mountain conditions, based upon informed decisions. All the days are designed to be in the mountains travelling up to an altitude of between 650m – 1344m using real situations to demonstrate and learn the skills. The course however can be tailored to your requirements, so if there is a peak that you want to climb or an area that you want to get to know, then great, we will try and fit it in.

Day 1

• ‘Winterising’ your kit
• Use of the boot for secure footwork
• Appropriate use of an ice axe
• Using an ice axe in an emergency
• Efficient, safe movement with crampons

Day 2

• Avalanche awareness
• Looking at the snow pack and identifying important snow layers
• Safe route choice through the mountains and on steeper slopes
• Identifying snow hazards
• Basic emergency rope work techniques

Day 3

• Taking in a major peak
• Route choice and planning
• Winter navigation techniques
• Taking a bearing
• Walking on the bearing
• White out techniques
• Identifying mountain features
• Use of timing and pacing
• Emergency shelter building

Day 4

1st Client lead day:

• Focusing around planning, travelling and navigating in the mountains
• Consolidating and practicing the techniques learnt on the first 3 days
• Taking in a major peak

Day 5

2nd client lead day:

• Taking in a major peak
• Revisiting and consolidating the skills previously learnt

OR

Day4-5

• Pack bags and leave for an overnight snow hole expedition
• Day 4 will be walking into the snow hole site whilst discussing the topic of snow holes with the potential for taking in a peak
• Digging your home for the night
• Day 5 will be an early start either taking in a peak or descending back to the car with the opportunity to re-visit any of the previous topics that have be introduced

We aim to cover the skills mentioned above and any other areas that are highlighted. But aspects of the course are subject to change, due to the variable weather and snow conditions in the Scottish mountains. However great effort will be taken to cover all aspects of the course as the opportunity arises.

Each participant will be required to bring suitable equipment for their chosen event, please see Kit List tab above.