Winter skills courses and guided winter hillwalking

Winter brings additional challenges to the mountain environment.  Snow, ice and extremes of weather can dramatically increase the dangers of mountainous areas, but for those who wish to face these challenges when winter walking, the experience can be fantastic.

In 2012 we are running 3 types of winter skills and winter experience courses.

• On Demand Welsh Winter
• On Demand West Coast (of Scotland) Winter
• 4 Days of West Coast Skills Training
• 1 Day of Skills + 3 Day Expedition Experience

On Demand Welsh Winter.

Throughout the winter we run winter skills courses from Snowdonia. We don't set dates for these courses simply phone or e-mail to let us know your availability. We need a minimum of 2 people to run courses but if you don't have a friend or regular mountaineering partner to join you get in touch anyway. We are usually able to match individuals up with others and find a mutually acceptable date.

Winter courses are currently available in Snowdonia (snow depending) all winter

Prices will be around £80 per person, per day, though discounts are available for those booking with larger groups or for multi-day courses.

On Demand West Coast Winter

Between 23rd January 2012 and 12th February 2012 we will be available to run bespoke winter courses on a similar system to the Welsh winter courses. We'll be based in Glen Coe giving easy access to the Nevis range as well as the Glen Coe area. Just get in touch to let us know your availability.

We need a minimum of 2 people to run courses but if you don't have a friend or regular mountaineering partner to join you get in touch anyway. We are usually able to match individuals up with others and find a mutually acceptable date.

Glen Coe / Ben Nevis area - 4 day winter skills course.

5,6,7,8 January 2012 - £280 per person (£70 per person per day)

12,13,14,15 January 2012 - £280 per person

When working from Glencoe we are based in North Ballachulish which is between the village of Glencoe and Fort William. This gives us easy access to the Ben Nevis area, The Mamores and Glen Coe.

The aim of this course is provide you with the necessary skills and confidence to operate as a winter walker in the British Isle. You will learn how to use an ice axe, crampons and winter boots to their full. You do not need prior winter walking experience but a willing attitude and good level of fitness is essential.

The course starts each morning interpreting weather and avalanche forecasts before setting out. On the hill the course moves from teaching the basics of using an ice axe and crampons to learning to arrest a slip or slide safely. Avalanche awareness and snowpack analysis is an underpinning theme throughout together with navigation and route choice.

Under guidance of a qualified instructor plenty of time is given over to practise the relevant skills. As the course takes place over four days you will have the opportunity to practise these skills while out tackling some of Scotland’s most beautiful mountains, learning as you go and seeing what techniques work for you. It will also allow you to observe and experience changes in the snow pack and Scotland's winter weather patterns.

The exact syllabus will vary depending on weather conditions and what you are most keen to learn. Each day will begin with a briefing on the current weather and avalanche forecasts and will involve snow pack analysis throughout the day. 

Areas we will cover

• Kit,
• Ice Axe / self arrest,
• Movement skills with and without crampons,
• Ice Axe use when walking,
• Navigation,
• Weather and avalanche forecasts,
• Route choice,
• Emergency shelter building,
• Avalanche and snow pack analysis.

Courses will run with qualified Winter Mountain Leaders with a maximum ratio of 1:6 so that you can gain the most from the experience. Courses will be run with a minimum of 3 participants.

One Day Skills + 3 day expedition

Lupine Adventure Co-op is offering two of these day skills and three day winter expedition into Scotland’s wild landscape. The first is in the Ben Alder area in February and the second in the Cairngorms in March

The Wilds of Ben Alder  -  £300 per person (ratio 1:4)

16,17,18,19 February 2012- one day skills + 3 day expedition. 

(Based in Newtonmore with the expedition taking place around Dalwhinnie)

This course is designed to give those who may have done some winter walking or who are keen summer hill walkers the opportunity to learn winter skills and tackle some of Scotland’s more remoter peaks in winter.

While on this course you will take part on a truly magnificent expedition in winter into some of Scotland’s most wild country putting your winter skills to the test. You will also have the unique experience of staying in a basic remote shelter known as a bothy.

The first day will take the format similar to a winter skills course - the morning will start interpreting weather and avalanche forecasts before heading out to learn / revise the basics of using an ice axe and crampons and arresting slips and slides safely.

The remaining three days will involve travelling to a remote mountain bothy from where a remote peak such as Ben Alder 1148m, Beinn Bheoil 1019m or Carn Dearg 1034 may be attempted. Throughout the expedition core winter skills we will developed and honed, knowledge on how use and operate efficiently out of mountain bothys will also be taught.

Key skills covered throughout the course will include

•    Movement skills with and without crampons,
•    Ice Axe use when walking,
•    Ice axe / self arrest
•    Navigation,
•    Weather and avalanche forecasts,
•    Route choice,
•    Emergency shelter building.

Due to the nature of this course participants are expected to be hill fit as walking in winter among wild land is challenging.

The sense of achievement of returning from an expedition such as this and operating out in these remote locations brings a huge sense of achievement and satisfaction. 

Wild Cairngorms through the Lairig Ghru - £280 per person (ratio 1:4)

March 22,23,24,25 one day skills + 3 day expedition

(Based in Avimore with the expedition taking place in either the Cairngorm or Feshie Hills).
    
This course is similar in nature to the Wilds of Ben Alder, the Cairngorms are Britain’s highest mountain range and is Scotland’s high arctic, often holding snow well into the summer months. The mountains here are rough but to see them in winter covered in white snow against blue skies is one of the most sought after sights in the British Isles.

This course is designed to give those who may have done some winter walking or who are keen summer hill walkers the opportunity to learn winter skills and tackle some of Scotland’s more remoter peaks in winter.

While on this course you will take part on a truly magnificent expedition in winter into some of Scotland’s most wild country putting your winter skills to the test. You will be staying in a basic remote shelter known as a bothy. Peaks that may be climbed include Ben Macdui 1309 (Britain’s second highest peak), Cairn Toul 1291m or Derry Cairngorm 1156m.

The first day will take the format similar to a winter skills course - the morning will start interpreting weather and avalanche forecasts before heading out to revise the basics of using an ice axe and crampons and arresting slips and slides safely.
The remaining three days will involve travelling to a remote mountain bothy and an attempt to climb one of the surrounding peaks. Throughout the expedition core winter skills we will developed further together will knowledge on how use and operate efficiently out of mountain bothys.

Key skills covered throughout the course will include:

•    Movement skills with and without crampons,
•    Ice Axe use when walking,
•    Ice axe / self arrest
•    Navigation,
•    Weather and avalanche forecasts,
•    Route choice,
•    Emergency shelter building.

Due to the nature of this course participants are expected to be hill fit as walking in winter among wild land is challenging.

The sense of achievement of returning from an expedition such of this and operating out in these remote locations brings a huge sense of achievement and satisfaction.

Other Areas?

If you would like a course in another mountainous area of the UK then this can probably be arranged. Please get in contact to let us know your requirements.

Kit    

Please take a look at the winter kit list, if you do not have all the required equipment then please let us know as soon as possible as you may be able to borrow from our stores.