Winter Skills

Duration:	1 - 2 days
Cost:	£50 per person per day
Min - Max No.	3 - 4

This short course is intended to give those who are already summer hill walkers/mountaineers some grounding in the techniques required to extend their sport into the more demanding conditions of winter.

We aim to cover planning a winter walk, winter clothing and equipment, weather information, ice axe arrest, step cutting, use of crampons, avalanche awareness, cold injuries, basic snow belaying, emergency shelter building and the demands of winter navigation.

In addition to basic personal equipment you will need: stiff soled four season boots which will take a crampon, ice axe, wind proof gloves/mitts, gaiters, head-torch and spare battery. (Ice axes and crampons can be supplied if you do not have these items as can advice on good equipment to buy).

These courses are usually held on mainland Scotland, because snow conditions on Skye are limited and unpredictable. Areas used on past courses include the Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh and the Ben Nevis range. Aonach Mor is particularly useful for this course as the gondola allows a swift assent to areas where instruction can be conducted and thus allow more time for practicing skills taught. (Please note gondola charges are not included in the course fee).

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