On this 5 Day course you will learn all the core skills required to stay safe in Scottish Winter. You will finish the course confident with kit selection, personal movement, route planning and preparation, winter navigation, the use of axes and crampons to keep your self safe as well as how to be independent and competent in our winter mountains.  No winter experience is needed! 

This week has been designed to give Women a chance to come out for a week of Winter Skills in an inclusive and relaxing environment, where the main focus is to get out and learn the skills we need to stay safe in Scottish Winter, but also do this in a manner that is not intimidating or pressurising. With accommodation included, all you need to do is tip up and bring yourself. 

This course will be overseen by myself, Alice, with Jo Trendell running the course each day on the hill.

The course is based from Corran Bunkhouse. It's a lovely place. You will be sharing with up to 2 others in a large  room with an ensuite bathroom. The cost of the accommodation is included in the cost of the ticket (£250pp for accommodation,  £350 for course = £600 course)

We will all meet on the Sunday the 23rd February at the Bunkhouse. Check in is from 4pm and we will meet in the Lounge area at 8pm so we can all meet each other. Let me know if you won't be able to make this meeting. 

24th - 28th February - Winter Skills Course. You will checkout on the 28th of Feb before our final hill day, unless you would like to book yourself in for the 28th too, which I can help arrange - please ask you'd like to do this, or you can get in touch with the bunkhouse directly and let them know you would like to extend your stay (let them know that you are coming with Alice Kerr)

On each day, you will meet at the Hostel at 9am and head out for a day in  the hills. We will finish each day around 4pm.  There will be an optional rest/easier day on the Wednesday. On the final day, we will finish a little earlier to allow for journeys home etc. You will have plenty of time over the week to gain and practise all the skills needed to keep yourself safe in Scottish winter. 

The course will cover/include:

- 5 nights accommodation at the Corran Bunkhouse (4pm 23rd Feb Check in- 28th Feb AM checkout)

- 5 days out in the magnificent hills around Glencoe - including shorter skills day and longer  mountain journeys

- Hire of Crampon, Ice Axe and helmet (booked at registration)

- Personal kit selection and appropriate use of kit

- Route planning and preparation

- Avalanche and snowpack Awareness

- Winter navigation skills

- Use of an ice axe for personal movement including cutting steps, self arrest and self belay.

- Use of crampons in ascent/decent, including kicking steps.

- Emergency Procedures in the hills

This course will not include:

- Food for the week - The hostel is Self Catering, with a large kitchen are to cook. There are some restaurants within walking distance of the hostel and Fort William is a short drive away and has plenty of supermarkets/restaurants). Not including food makes it easier for those with special dietary requirements or preferences to make sure they get what is good for them. 

- Transport - Though I can help with this if you are coming by train :) 

Kit List

Essential kit for you to have:

- Waterproof Jacket (WITH hood)

- Waterproof Trousers

- Insulated jacket/coat

- Fleece layer/jumper

- Mountain Boots (B2/B3, stiff bottomed boots - these can be hired at an additional cost of £30)

- Medium size rucksack (with waterproof liner, or dry bags)

- Hat 

- 2 x Gloves (At least 1 waterproof pair)

- Sunglasses or Sun Hat

- Goggles

- Buff or Balaclava

- Head torch and spare batteries

- Walking pole(s)

- Food and Drink for the day

- Thermos flask is recommended so that you can have a hot drink!

- Personal Medication and First Aid Kit

- Foil survival bag

- Emergency Whistle

- Waterproof map of the area (Or non-waterproof map in waterproof cover) I will let you know which map nearer the time.

- Compass (Silva Expedition Type 4 is recommended)

Recommended:

- Gaiters

- Waterproof socks

Essential kit that can be hired FOC (bring your own if you have them!)

• Crampons (12 point, with anti-balling plate)

• Ice Axe – 50 – 65cm, straight walking axe                                These 3 peices of kit can be booked at checkout!

• Helmet (Suitable for Climbing/Mountaineering)

   

Recommended Kit for the evenings etc

• Comfy clothes

• Spare footwear for walking into town/around the hostel

Cost

Please get in touch if you have questions about the cost of the course and payment - If it doesn't work for you to pay in 1 lump sum, we can arrange a monthly payment to allow you to pay it of in smaller sections. I really don't want the cost of the course to be a problem for anyone, so message me if it is not affordable for you but you would love to come along and we can have chat :)

Get in touch if you would like more details.