Alongside the Social Meet, we are putting on a collection of Introductory Skills clinincs to set you up for the winter. There will be two to chose from: an introduction to axes, crampons & understanding the avalanche forecast; and an introduction to winter navigation, (including the use of GPS) & understanding the avalanche forecast.

If you’d like to come to this Meet please send us an email telling us where you’re coming from and if you’re interested in being involved in lift sharing. We also need your mobile number. We then circulate all details of the event, the women coming along and lift sharing details.

Want to read more about the Social Meet?

The Cairngorm National Park forms the largest area of arctic mountain landscape in the UK and is host to some 25% of the country's threatened plants, animals and birds. These mountains are ancient & magnificent to experience.

The programme for this week is very broad. During the week you will learn to use the winter walker & mountaineers' essential tools - crampons and axes.

There will be thorough instruction & practice of snow and ice skills (use of crampons & ice axe), and daily avanlanche & conditions assessments. Navigation, emergency shelters & the use of snow holes will also be covered throughout the week. Some snow anchor and ropework skills may also be touched upon, along with the techniques necessary for tackling easy ridges and gullies.

Whilst some days will be spent in one area going through techniques, there will also be journeys, perhaps to some of the classic Cairngorm munros (Cairngorm, Braeriach, Cairn Toul, Ben Macdui, Beinn Mheadhoin & Derry Cairngorm), putting into practice some of these new found (or newly polished) skills & experience.

This 5 day course is perfect for winter mountain virgins & those who have never recieved instruction in any of the above skills. Some people come to this course who simply want to thoroughly freshen up on the essential winter mountain skills & tachniques.

Here's a list of the gear you'll need for the week: Equipment List.

BOOKING FORM

The Cairngorm National Park forms the largest area of arctic mountain landscape in the UK and is host to some 25% of the country's threatened plants, animals and birds. These mountains are ancient & magnificent to experience.

This 5 day course will get you immersed in the skills and experience of Scottish winter climbing. During the week you'll climb classic routes (probably up to Grade IV 9although we don't really 'set the bar' anywhere) on snow, ice, rock & frozen turf. You'll hone the skills of an array of climbing techniques, whilst getting to grips with a range of supporting stuff - winter equipment, mental approaches to climbing, stance & rope management. Every day you will get to see & be involved with the decision of where to go & what to do regarding the avalanche & weather conditions. Most importantly, you'll be learning in a fun & supportive atmosphere.

This 5 day course is perfect for those new to winter climbing, or with other (indoor, rock & foreign) climbing experience.

The course works on a 1:2 ratio of instruction, which is crucial for the intensity & flexibility of the course content.

Here's a list of the gear you'll need for the week: Equipment List.

BOOKING FORM

The Cairngorm National Park forms the largest area of arctic mountain landscape in the UK and is host to some 25% of the country's threatened plants, animals and birds. These mountains are ancient & magnificent to experience.

The Northern Coires of the Cairngorms offer the best possible learning ground for winter climbing in the UK: the routes are brilliant and well protected and very accessible, allowing maximum time for climbing.

This 2 day clinic offers the chance of experiencing roped climbing on snow, rock, ice and turf; getting to grips with roped ascents of classic routes, stance & rope management, climbing techniques and 2 great days out! Graded ground up to III is often experienced on this clinic.

This weekend is suitable for people who've never done any winter climbing. Experience of indoor climbing or summer rock climbing is quite common, but by no means essential. This clinic is very helpful for those who have done some with a partner or club and now want to underpin that with a little expert help.

1:3 ratio of instruction.

Here's a list of the gear you'll need for the weekend: Equipment List.

BOOKING FORM

The Cairngorm National Park forms the largest area of arctic mountain landscape in the UK and is host to some 25% of the country's threatened plants, animals and birds. These mountains are ancient & magnificent to experience.

This 2 day clinic is for those who want to push their grade, begin to learn to lead or simply get some coaching on their climbing technique or instruction on gear placements or ropework. The Northern Coires are the perfect venue for this 2 day clinic as they offer the best possible conditions for learning.

Helping climbers with their skills, technique & mental approach is what we specialise in. We aim to leave you with a clear criteria of 'where you're at' and the steps to help you gain confidence and expertise. It's incredible the development you can bring about when you put your efforts in the right direction! Give it a try...

BOOKING FORM

Rjukan has become the ice climbing destination for Britons, and for good reason: it's the perfect venue for ice climbers for it's beautiful climbs, range of technical difficulty, and walk ins that barely stretch your calves!

We are hugely enthusiastic about these clinics, as they allow us to cover so much in one week. Norway's ice falls are brilliant for getting to grips with winter climbing, and for pushing your technical ability.

Want to read more? We've put a load of the useful info together. We also do trips for those wanting to go as a big group, or just do a few days with our expertise and then to go off and do your own thing.

COST
£1,100: 1:2 ratio of instruction.
£860: 1:3 ratio of instruction.

BOOKING FORM

WHAT'S INCLUDED
6 days guiding & instruction
accommodation at Rjukan Hytteby
group equipment
transport during the week
airport shuttle

Rjukan has become the ice climbing destination for Britons, and for good reason: it's the perfect venue for ice climbers for it's beautiful climbs, range of technical difficulty, and walk ins that barely stretch your calves!

We are hugely enthusiastic about these clinics, as they allow us to cover so much in one week. Norway's ice falls are brilliant for getting to grips with winter climbing, and for pushing your technical ability.

Want to read more? We've put a load of the useful info together. We also do trips for those wanting to go as a big group, or just do a few days with our expertise and then to go off and do your own thing.

COST
£1,100: 1:2 ratio of instruction.
£860: 1:3 ratio of instruction.

strong>BOOKING FORM

WHAT'S INCLUDED
6 days guiding & instruction
accommodation at Rjukan Hytteby
group equipment
transport during the week
airport shuttle

Mountaineering is probably one of the most difficult skill sets to aquire, requiring a very broad range of experience, techniques and understanding.

These 2 days will concentrate on just those skills, whilst also enabling you to put them into practice. Such skills and techniques include building anchors, good ropework & stance management, sound movement on steeper ground, snow assessment and route selection. Journeys on steeper ground via gullies and ridges are likely to be tackled.

This clinic is ideal for the seasoned winter walkler who would like to take things a bit further, wants to tackle some of the more technical Munros in winter conditions, or aims to try Alpine mountaineering

Here's a list of the gear you'll need for the weekend: Equipment List.

BOOKING FORM

Mountaineering is probably one of the most difficult skill sets to aquire, requiring a very broad range of experience, techniques and understanding.

Glencoe and Ben Nevis offer superb ground for the delights of mountaineering, with an amazing array of world class ridges and gullies to explore. This week will cover a very full range of skills, techniques and the full 5 days for putting these into practice on a variety of journeys.

Skills and techniques to be covered include: daily interpretation of snow, route conditions & weather forecasts; building & use of anchors, retreat, route choice, emergency procedures, movement on tricky & exposed terrain, understanding of equipment and having great days out (plus a recap of essential use of crampons & axes)!

Possible ridges and routes include the north east ridge of Beinn a Choarainn; Ledge Route & Carn Mor Dearg arete on Ben Nevis; Curved Ridge & North Buttress on Buachaille Etive Mor and the Aonach Eagach ridge, to name but a few!

BOOKING FORM

Glencoe, Ben Nevis & the Fort Willaim area offer a plethora of incredible routes. This is a guided weekend, allowing you to experience what Scottish winter climbing is all about. You'll get to grips with the techniques of using snow, ice, frozen turf & rock to ascend classic routes.

The weekend is suitable for winter novices and those wanting to check their current level & understasnding, and building on things from there. Routes up to Grade IV are climbed on over the weekend. Examples include North Buttress on Buachaille Etive Mor, Twisting Gully & Original Route in Stob Coire nan Lochain, and Tower Scoop on Ben Nevis.

This course runs on a 1:3 ratio of instruction.

Here's a list of the gear you'll need for the weekend: Equipment List.

BOOKING FORM

We headed for Glen Coe intent on the pleasure of traversing the Aonach Eagach Ridge in the sun and snow…Conditions were iron hard, the way untracked, the snow and ice sparkling, the sky blue against white, gleaming hills. Roped, we traversed west towards the sun, and far out, the sea. Absorbed, we eventually found ourselves climbing on a crest of pink snow, the glen a growing blackness beneath us. The sun was setting but we moved in a world of light. Anne had no desire to leave the ridge. She liked pink snow…Under a scatter of stars, we plunged down the side of the ridge somewhere before Clachaig Gully…Lights approached. We saw the Glen Coe road under our feet…We were down. It had been a good day.&dquo; WH Murray

BOOKING FORM

This seven day, cabin to cabin tour starts in western Rondane at Høvringen, southwards through this wonderfully varied area and finally to the Ringebu mountains. The route is nowhere steep, although there will be an opportunity to climb a spectacular 2,000 metre peak while staying an extra night at Rondvassbu. Accommodation is in DNT-lodges, hotels and self-service cabins.

This ski adventure is a pilot course we are running this year. It will be led by Tania Noakes (MIC, BASI Nordi Ski Teacher & currently training to be a UIAGM International Guide) who has worked on a number of our clinics since 2003. Tania has enormous experience & love for skiing, if you want to read more about her, visit her site here.

BOOKING FORM

WHAT'S INCLUDED
guiding & instruction by Tania Noakes
accommodation
all meals (first day - supper only, last day - breakfast only)