Are you itching to get out in the mountains in winter?
Do you want to learn skills and take on new challenges?
With top quality input and instruction our winter skills courses may be exactly what you're looking for! We cater to all abilities and ages with the aim of equipping you with new skills to be able to enjoy the mountains of Scotland in winter conditions, so if that sounds like it could be for you, read on!
What is it?
The aim of these courses is to teach, develop and practice the skills required to go hillwalking in the mountains in winter.
Who is it for?
Those with little or no experience of winter hillwalking. Normally you would have a decent level of hill fitness and summer mountain experience beforehand, in a range of conditions.
How long is it?
As the name suggests it is a 2-day course! But we will support and advise you even before the course begins to ensure you are prepared with what to expect and what kit you’ll need. We also offer 3, 4 or 5 days courses for those looking to take things to another level!
Where is it?
Most of our winter courses will take place in the Cairngorms National Park or will be based from Fort William, to give us the maximum time in the winter environment as possible.
Every course is centred around the skill, experience and goals of the individuals attending, but our most common booking is for a beginner’s course, for those looking to get a first taste of the mountains in winter…
- Preparation
We will give you support and advice from the outset on what sort of gear you will need to bring and where to get it!
- Efficiency
When you’re ploughing through deep snow, the last thing you want is an unnecessarily heavy backpack… or to spend too long getting cold fingers rummaging through it! So from the offset we’ll look at what to pack in our rucksacks and how to pack it, to maximise your winter experience.
- Hazard awareness
In the winter the weather can be your biggest adversary. Checking and understanding weather forecasts and the avalanche hazard is a crucial part of winter success.
- Equipment
Our equipment is a key part of travelling smoothly and safely in the challenging winter terrain. We’ll use small “workshops” throughout the course, considering how to use winter boots, crampons, and ice axes as tools to aid our journey in the snow and ice.
- New skills
Day 2 of the course takes you on a mountain journey, focusing on practicing your new skills in context and adding to them!
Our winter skills courses are all undertaken on a 1 instructor to 6 participants ratio.
For larger groups wishing to book please get in touch to arrange a bespoke course.
Pricing:
For private courses, price per course is as follows:
1 Person - £500
2 People - £550
3 People - £600
4 People - £650
5 People - £700
6 People - £750
Alternatively you could join an open course*, these are priced at £190pp
*Open courses will only run if a minimum of 2 people book a space.
What’s Included?
The price covers instruction for 2 full days, and the supply of key equipment.
Skye Mountaineering will provide participants with a helmet, ice axe and crampons.
You will need to hire boots suitable to take a semi-automatic crampon (with a heel welt).
We can advise on where to hire boots from.
You will also need to find suitable accommodation for the duration of the course, this is something we can offer advice on.
If you’re looking for something a little more advanced, get in touch to organise a bespoke course or try one of our 3 day or 4 day winter skills courses!
