Two-Day Winter Skills Course – Aviemore

Day 1
Meet at 9am in the parking area by the tennis club at Inverdruie to check kit and crampon fitting before moving to the Cairngorm Mountain Ski Centre car park and out onto the hills for the rest of the day.
We recommend staying in Aviemore the night before too, especially if you’re coming up the A9 over Drumochter.

On the journey out to the training area your instructor will talk about the ground, clues to snow movement, identifying risk areas, snow laden slopes, terrain traps etc.

You will also discuss navigation techniques, how the conditions underfoot can affect speed, tips on low visibility and avoiding risk.

Depending on the ground conditions you will start the training on the way to the training area, using boots as a tool, self-arrest without an axe etc. It might also be suitable to fit crampons and walk with an axe to the training area.

At the training area we will cover:
Walking using crampons up and down hill
Walking with an axe and stowing an axe when not in use
Step cutting and the suitability of each type
Ice axe arrests
Shelters, building the various types and the benefits of shovels
Benefit of transceivers and companion rescue

Day 2
Some of the topics above will be covered or recapped on day 2 which will be more of a mountain journey. Day 2 will consolidate the learning, you will plan a safe route into the hills, each taking turns practicing your winter navigation.

You should have good summer hill walking experience before attending this course.
You will need boots capable of taking a crampon.
Snow conditions and weather on the day will dictate how the training is managed.
Participation form, kit guide and discount code will be sent on booking.
Contact us for any more information.