On this 3 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 course has been designed to give Women a chance to come out and learn 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.

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The course will cover/include:

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- 3 days out in the Cairngorms - 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:

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- Accommodation

- 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

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£300

 

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.