The following page describes our winter skills courses, including winter mountaineering, and there is a link should you wish to look at our Greater Ranges Preparation Weekends. We hope that the course details are self-explanatory but, if you are undecided as to which course would be best suited to you, please feel free to give us a ring and we will be very happy to discuss it.
For those booking 4 or more participants, group rates are available. Please see the bottom of this page.
SNOW GUARANTEE!
IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT WE HAVE TO CANCEL THE COURSE DUE TO LACK OF SNOW, WE WILL REFUND ALL MONIES PAID TO US BY YOU!
EQUIPMENT
Please note that that all technical equipment that you need for your course is included in the price - there are no hidden charges!
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ICE CLIMBING IN NORWAY
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Please remember, if you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask, either by email or giving us a ring on 01340 871071. We'll be very happy to help.
ACCOMMODATION.
Those choosing the guest-house option will be staying at the licensed Willowbank Guest-house in Grantown on Spey, the base for our winter courses. Willowbank is situated close to all amenities, being just a couple of minutes walk from the shops. You will be comfortably accommodated in either twin or double bedded rooms, and the package includes breakfast, which can be anything from a bowl of meusli through to a full fry-up with trimmings! They are able to supply packed lunches by arrangement if required, with evening meals being available if you fancy a night in. Being licensed, beer, wines and spirits are available should you wish for a nightcap. There is a car park at the rear, boot porch, and gear can be dried out if need be. Free wireless internet access is available whilst on the course, and a lap-top can be provided for you to use to check up on emails etc if you do not have your own.
Run by the very helpful and friendly Anne and Chris Hirst, you can have a look at the accommodation by going to www.wbgh.co.uk
WINTER MOUNTAINEERING.
This is our most popular winter course, and is aimed at both beginners and those with some basic winter walking experience who wish to expand their skills to help them cover more technical and demanding ground. The topics covered during the week include micro-navigation, axe and crampon techniques, avalanche prediction, snow stability assessment and emergency bivouac skills, with an important part of the week being on winter ropework. The ropework taught on this course will cover rope usage on ground of up to grade 1 in standard, as well as the use of snow and rock anchors. We will also look at using a rope to safeguard progress in situations such as outflanking a cornice or when negotiating an ice step. Descents over awkward terrain will also be covered. An excellent course, whatever your aspirations may be!
EXPERIENCE: Ideally some winter experience, though not essential. A fair level of fitness allowing 5 consecutive days on the hill.
RATIO: 1:4.
OUTCOME: You should complete the week happy with your own personal mountaineering skills. You will be comfortable navigating over winter terrain, making sound route choice decisions, and have a good working knowledge of rope systems for safeguarding both ascent and descent on graded and non-graded ground. You will be able to progress easily to more technical climbing in the future, on ground of more than grade 1 in standard, should you so wish.
The course is 5 full days starting on Monday morning and finishing late afternoon on Friday, with 5 nights accommodation, starting the previous (Sun) evening through to Friday morning. Accommodation for Friday night can be added by request.
COURSE-ONLY £275.00.
COURSE AND GUEST-HOUSE B&B £395.00.
JAN 21-25, JAN 28-FEB 1, FEB 4-8, 18-22, 25-29, MAR 3-7, 17-21.
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FOR AN OUTLINE PROGRAMME FOR THIS COURSE, CLICK HERE.
INTRODUCTORY WINTER SKILLS.
This 5-day course is an excellent introduction to the skills needed for a safe and enjoyable time in the hills under winter conditions. It is ideally suited to those with some summer walking experience, who wish to broaden their experience and be able to travel in the mountains in safety during the winter months. No previous winter walking experience is required for participants. The range of subjects that we cover during the week includes equipment choice, route planning, snowholing and emergency bivouac skills, avalanche safety, ice axe work, self arrest, crampon technique and security on steep ground. At the request of participants, this course may include a session of basic ropework, showing how one may be deployed for safety in ascent and descent. However, this will be of a non-technical nature, and will not be on steep ground. Every day is spent out on the hill, usually in a different area each day. We will have the opportunity to visit many beautiful and spectacular places during the week, and we will be walking in areas such as the Hills of Cromdale, Ben Rinnes, the Northern Corries of Cairngorm and the Loch A'an Basin.
EXPERIENCE: 5 - 10 days of summer hillwalking as a minimum.
RATIO: 1:8, more often 1:6.
OUTCOME: You should finish the week being able to navigate over winter terrain, make sound route planning decisions, and have a knowledge of snow and avalanche conditions. You will be comfortable moving across snow covered ground using an ice axe and crampons to aid progress and for security, and will have the ability to construct emergency snow shelters.
The course is 5 full days starting on Monday morning and finishing late afternoon on Friday, with 5 nights accommodation, starting the previous (Sun) evening through to Friday morning. Accommodation for Friday night can be added by request.
COURSE-ONLY £275.00.
COURSE AND GUEST-HOUSE B&B £395.00.
JAN 14-18, FEB 11-15, MAR 10-14, 24-28.
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FOR AN OUTLINE PROGRAMME FOR THIS COURSE, CLICK HERE
WINTER SKILLS WEEKEND.
If you are unable to devote an entire week to learning winter walking skills, then this course will be ideal for you. It is also very suitable should you have some basic winter experience but wish to brush up on your skills. The content of the weekend is very similar to the first two days of our standard week-long course. Saturday is spent practising the navigational techniques essential for safe travel in winter - map and compass work, micro-navigation, timing and pacing and walking on bearings in bad visibility. Sunday is spent practising safe movement on steep ground - ice axe and crampon work, self arrest, step cutting, avalanche risk assessment and emergency snow-hole techniques. Both days are spent out on the hill maximizing our instructional time. The course will finish on the Sunday afternoon.
EXPERIENCE: 5 - 10 days of summer hillwalking as a minimum.
RATIO: 1:8, more often 1:6.
OUTCOME: You should complete the weekend with extra skills enabling you to navigate over winter terrain, and have a knowledge of snow and avalanche conditions. You will have practised moving across snow covered ground using an ice axe and crampons to aid progress and for security, and will have constructed an emergency snow shelter.
The course is for 2 full days, starting on Saturday morning and finishing late afternoon on the Sunday. Accommodation is provided for the Friday and Saturday nights, and can be added for Sunday by request.
COURSE-ONLY £145.00.
COURSE AND GUEST HOUSE B&B £195.00.
JAN 5-6, 19-20, FEB 2-3, 16-17, 23-24, MAR 8-9, 22-23.
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WINTER ROPEWORK WEEKEND.
The two days of this course are spent looking at winter ropework skills, and as such is ideal for winter walkers and mountaineers who wish to add a little more to their repertoire. The use of the rope in ascent and descent will be discussed and practiced, as will snow and ice anchors, rock anchors, direct, semi-direct and indirect belays, and abseiling. An introduction to emergency procedures will also be covered.
Dates are arranged to suit, with the best option usually being 2 days on the hill, often over a weekend.
EXPERIENCE: Some winter hillwalking experience, with a knowledge of cramponing and self arrest.
RATIO: 1:1 upwards.
OUTCOME: You should finish the weekend with the ability to organize a number of belay systems correctly, have the skills to retreat from a route if necessary, and be aware of the equipment available to the winter mountaineer.
COST: £170.00 per day for 1:1 or 1:2. Other ratios by arrangement.
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GROUP DISCOUNTED PRICES
The following prices are quoted for groups of four or more people booking together and attending the same course. Prices are quoted without accommodation, this can be added on by request. Prices include use of specialized equipment. If you have any specific needs or queries, or need a quote for a different ratio,don't hesitate to get in touch.
INTRODUCTORY WINTER SKILLS
1:4 RATIO: £245.00 PER PERSON
1:6 RATIO: £170.00 PER PERSON
1:8 RATIO: £130.00 PER PERSON
WINTER MOUNTAINEERING
1:4 RATIO: £245.00 PER PERSON
1:6 RATIO (by arrangement): £170.00 PER PERSON.
WINTER SKILLS WEEKEND
1:4 RATIO: £95.00 PER PERSON.
1:6 RATIO: £70.00 PER PERSON.
1:8 RATIO: £55.00 PER PERSON.
TAILOR-MADE COURSES
In addition to the above courses, we are happy to arrange courses to suit. This may be a 1:1 ratio for winter skills, a larger ratio for groups, or any content to suit your requirements.
RATIO: To suit.
COST: Starting at £180.00 per day for 1:1 or 1:2