Why should I do an advanced winter mountaineering course with Climb365?
Advanced winter mountaineering
The advanced winter mountaineering course is a 5-day course designed to give a good progression from winter skills to winter climbing.
The winter mountaineering course begins by teaching essential winter skills like crampon use, step cutting and ice axe breaking to enable you to feel comfortable on snow.
The advanced winter mountaineering course then introduces winter mountaineering/scrambling skills by tackling a winter scramble.
We finish the course by guiding you up both winter ice climbing routes and mixed winter climbing routes.
No previous winter experience is needed for our winter mountaineering course, however, any basic knowledge of climbing or winter walking can be useful.
Course programme
The night before: We’ll meet up with you and all the other winter mountaineering course participants. We run through the programme and the weather and look at the kit that you have, issue hired kit and discuss what you need to carry for each day.
Winter mountaineering day 1:
Day 1 ratio 1:6
Winter skills including walking on snow and ice, using crampons, step cutting, ice axe braking and basic avalanche awareness.
Winter mountaineering day 2:
Day 2 ratio 1:6
A winter journey using the skills learnt on day one. This usually includes more challenging ground, maybe a grade I ridge.
Winter mountaineering day 3:
Day 3 ratio 1:3
Winter scrambling/mountaineering. This involves roped scrambling over grade II ground with sections of grade III. Sometimes on this day, we do some movement coaching on bulges of ice. We also look at movement using one ice axe in a more climbing environment.
Winter mountaineering day 4:
Day 4 ratio 1:2
Guided winter climbing. We will be on a 1:2 ratio during the last two days of the course. This day is an introduction to winter climbing and we aim to climb winter routes and the grade is determined by the ability of the course members. We will be using two technical axes and involves roped climbing.
Winter mountaineering day 5:
Day 5 ratio 1:2
A day of progression, this usually involves bringing all the skills learnt through the week enabling an amazing winter route to be climbed. We are always open to the desires of our course members and so after discussion on Thursday eve, this day is flexible to offer you just what you’re after to finish off your course with a real highlight of the week.
The kit we provide.
Included in the price we provide :
Helmets, harnesses and any ropes we might use during the course. If you have your own kit that’s great and of course you will prefer to use them but if you are flying or travelling by train to Scotland and space is a premium then feel free to use ours.
What do I need to bring?
You will need to bring clothing suitable for the demands of a Scottish winter, here is a Winter kit list for you to download and check through. We often give advice to those buying new kit for the course. We know what works through experience and can advise you on the best kit for you prior to the course.
Kit hire prices:
If you don’t have the specific winter kit needed for the course you can hire it from us. We will arrange this for you when organising your place on the course.
Winter climbing/mountaineering boots are £15 per day
Crampons £10 per day or £40 per 5 days course
Walking axe supplied free as part of the course
We also supply free of charge Technical axe and hammer.
Dates
In the past, we have offered set course dates but have generally found that clients prefer dates that suit their diary.
Responding to this, we now offer this course on any 5 consecutive days to suit both your and our availability.
If you have the choice weekdays are quieter in the hills but many clients have busy lives and weekends suit.
This is no problem, just get in touch and we will dovetail you into the programme.
Advanced winter mountaineering courses price:
Prices are shown as a day rate per instructor.
1 instructor to 1 client £230
1 instructor to 2 clients £250
1 instructor to 3 clients £270
1 instructor to 4 clients £290
1 instructor to 5 clients £310
1 instructor to 6 clients £330
The max ratio is 1 instructor to 6 mountaineers. However, if we have 1 person it enables us to tailor the week and introduce any skills that you feel you wish to cover.
All our courses are run in the West Highlands including areas such as Ben Nevis, Aonach Mor, Glencoe, Creag Meagaidh, or based in the Cairngorms.
As you are the one booking, you can choose and we can suggest where would be best or you might have some routes in mind that you would love to do.
If based over in the West look for Fort William if over in the Cairngorms (East) look for Aviemore: please follow this link to suggestions for accommodation.
You will need to travel to and from the course but we often can provide transport during the course.
You can simply book online and fill in the booking form all in one go.
We use world pay to make things safe and as easy as possible for you.
Once you have booked online, you will receive a confirmation email for your booking with all the arrangements for your activity.
If you are wanting to book an activity which starts within 48 hours of the booking date, please call us so that we can process your booking on the phone. This will ensure you don’t miss out and can have a great time on the activity.
If you would like to email or chat please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
