Winter Skills - petehillmic.com

WINTER COURSES 2012

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.

WE HAVE KEPT OUR COURSE PRICES THE SAME FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS!

SNOW GUARANTEE
In the unlikely event that we have to cancel the course due to lack of snow, we will either offer you an alternative course,
date or 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.

ACCOMMODATION
Those choosing the guest-house option will be staying at the licensed Kinross House in Grantown on Spey, the base for our winter courses. Awarded four stars by the Scottish Tourist Board, Kinross House is situated close to all amenities, being just a couple of minutes walk from the shops. You will be comfortably accommodated in either single, twin or double bedded rooms, and the package includes breakfast, which can be anything from a bowl of muesli 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 off-road parking 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 Jane and Gary Laud, you can have a look at the accommodation by going to http://www.kinrosshouse.co.uk/index.htm

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.

PRICES
WINTER SKILLS COURSE - £325.00.
COURSE AND GUEST-HOUSE B&B £475.00.

DATES
CONTACT US FOR THE LATEST DATES.

BOOK NOW

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.

PRICES
WINTER SKILLS COURSE - £325.00.
COURSE AND GUEST-HOUSE B&B £475.00.

DATES
CONTACT US FOR THE LATEST DATES.

BOOK NOW

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.

PRICES
WINTER SKILLS WEEKEND COURSE - £145.00.
COURSE AND GUEST HOUSE B&B £195.00.

DATES
JAN  8-9, 29-30, FEB 19-20, MAR 12-13, APR 2-3.

BOOK NOW


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: £180.00 per day for 1:1 or 1:2. Other ratios by arrangement.
BOOK NOW


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