NNAS Navigation Courses, NGB Refresher Courses, Winter Skills, Scrambling,
Rock Climbing & Mountaineering
Rock Climbing & Mountaineering
Pure Outdoor Winter Skills Week (Sun pm-Fri)
Difficulty
Venue: Cairngorms National Park, Scotland.
Keywords What are you looking for? : winter skills training, winter skills course, ice axe, crampons, snowpack, avalanche, winter navigation, learn navigation, navigation course, navigation training, advanced compass use, munro, winter walking, ice axe arrest, fitting crampons, winter hillwalking equipment.
Location:
For the week, we will be based in Aviemore in the beautiful Cairngorms National Park. We are based here for the fantastic facilities of the national park, easy access to higher ground and good facilities.
Skills:
Over the 5 day course (Monday to Friday), we aim to provide you with experience of using all of the skills required for of navigating, safe travel, avalanche awareness, Ice Axe and Crampon use and hillwalking in the winter mountains. This course really suits the summer hillwalker who has spent little or no time in the mountains in Winter. This course covers all of the essentials and allows course participants to follow up these skills with mountain days to consolidate the experience. Not even that, but it is a fantastic holiday!
Itinerary:
There are many skills that need to be practiced and taught during this week long course. This itinerary is a rough guide. Note there will be talks on an evening to give you more understanding of the following days objecives.
Sunday PM:
Meet, have a drink and chat over the week.
Monday:
Practicing 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.
Monday PM:
Mountain Navigation Talk
Tuesday:
Practicing 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.
Tuesday PM:
Avalanche Avoidance Talk
Wednesday:
A days mountain adventure - covering a whole range of navigation strategies, avalanche avoidance and ice axe and crampon techniques.
Wednesday PM:
Winter Essentials DVD (optional)
Thursday:
A day looking at and digging a variety of snow shelters. We will experiment using shovels, ice axes, and almost anything else that comes to hand! If you have decided that ropework would be of interest, this is the day on which we will show you a few simple ways to safeguard yourself and your companions, both up and down awkward steps. Please note that this session will not be held on steep ground, but we will use a simple snow step a few feet high for demonstration
Friday:
Hillwalking is the game for Friday! A chance to practice all of the skills learnt throughout the week. The venue will be completely down to the group who will be expected to plan the days outing. Plenty of opportunity to go hillwalking anywhere in the local/not so local area! We will be returning to the hostel for de-briefs and drinks for those who are staying!
Equipment
As we migrate from summer to winter it is worth thinking about what additional it you will need. Along with the usual summer hillwalking equipment you will require stiff soled mountaineering boots (at least B2 rated) these can be hired locally. Also you will need a walking Ice Axe and Crampons. Helmets will be required for some of the days and will be provided. If you need to hire equipment - please let me know. The cost of hiring an Ice Axe and Crampons for the week is approximately £40.
Transport
We will be based near Aviemore. Aviemore is easily accessible by car, train or plane (Inverness Airport). Where possible, I am always willing to help with course participants needing a lift/transfer. During the course, we will be travelling to and from several venues in the surrounding area - transport will be shared between drivers throughout the course. For more information read the 'How to get there' section!
Accommodation
This course is non-residential and you will be requried to arrange your own accommodation.
Pre-Requisits
A reasonable level of fitness and/or willing to be out and about in the Scottish Winter Mountains for 5 days. Summer hillwalking experience recommended.
Ratio: 1:6
Book Course Online
To book a place on a 'Winter Skills Week' course simply select your desired date below and click add to cart.
View Booking FAQ's
To book a place on a 'Winter Skills Week' course simply select your desired date below and click add to cart.
View Booking FAQ's
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Come learn navigation, map reading and how to use a compass on a Navigation Course. High quality provider of Navigation Training, Rock Climbing Courses & Winter Skills Courses. Choose a map reading course to suit your needs from the Pure Outdoor Courses menu.
Come learn navigation, map reading and how to use a compass on a Navigation Course. High quality provider of Navigation Training, Rock Climbing Courses & Winter Skills Courses. Choose a map reading course to suit your needs from the Pure Outdoor Courses menu.