Winter 2010 Availability

Feb and March 2010 - Available for private guiding and instruction in the Scottish Highlands Please get in touch for more details.

Winter 2010 Suggested Courses and Itineraries...

All winter courses are physically demanding and involve repeated 7-9 hour days with as much as 1000m of ascent and descent. Make sure you are prepared for this - physically and mentally. Running, cycling, swimming and the gym are all good ways of improving your cardiovascular fitness. If possible, also try and get out in the hills. This will help strengthen the muscle groups more specific to your course and give you a bit more mental stamina for those long Highland Winter days! A shorter day or two can be arranged during the course (to allow for tired legs!) by taking the Aonach Mor Gondola or visiting the 'Ice-Factor'.

Introduction to Winter Mountaineering

This course is aimed at folk with little or no winter mountaineering experience or those who want a refresher of their existing skills. Winter skills training will be given alongside ascents of interesting Munros around Lochaber such as Buchaille Etive Mor, Mamores (Ring of Steal), Ben Nevis via an interesting route, Aonach Mor etc. We may venture on to Scottish Grade I ground but not beyond so folk seeking steeper terrain with 2 ice-axes should refer to our climbing courses.

Introduction to Winter Climbing

For folk with some experience of summer mountaineering or rock climbing wanting to progress to winter climbing. This course will focus on good mountaineering and climbing skills early in the week and move on to tackling winter climbs around Scottish II-III. It will include a rewarding mixture of longer guided ascents, on Ben Nevis for example, and shorter climbs where more attention can be given to further skills training.

Scottish Winter Climbing

This course is aimed at folk with some UK summer rock climbing experience who are keen to progress to winter climbing. Some winter walking / mountaineering experience is desirable but not essential. It will introduce you to, or refresh your general winter mountaineering and climbing skills on days 1-2 where there will be a 1:4 instructor : student ratio. For days 3-5 there will be a 1:2 ratio and more challenging climbs around Scottish grade II-IV, may be undertaken. A flexible approach can thus be taken to match students with similar abilities / aspirations.

Intermediate to Advanced Winter Climbing

This course is for folk with some winter climbing experience already who are aiming to improve their skills and confidence on routes between Scottish grade III and V. Ideally this will involve a mixture of good quality ice and mixed climbing from the West Coast to the Cairngorms. With 2 students of suitable ability and aspiration it may be possible for students to practice leading their own winter climbs (on the 5 day course only).

Alpine Easter

This course is aimed at folk who want a climbing / mountaineering / alpine training experience over 4 days at Easter and have a flexible approach to conditions. Ben Nevis is often in superb icy condition at this time of Spring and if so ascents of the classic north face ice climbs can be made. If conditions are still particularly wintery - mixed or winter buttress climbing would be an option and if a major thaw has swept the Highlands high quality multi-pitch rock climbing or Alpine style ridges could be on the itinerary. Specific training regarding alpine mountaineering and rope work could also be covered as required.