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Winter Essentials Weekend
Friday Night to Sunday

Location
For the weekend, we will be based in the village of 'Nethy Bridge' near 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 weekend, we aim to provide you with Essential Skills of navigating, safe travel, avalanche awareness and hillwalking in the winter mountains. For those of you with limited time and a little experience in walking in the summer, this course will provide you skills that can then be practiced and honed throughout the winter. If you are looking for an introductory course to prepare you and give you more experience - the Winter Skills Plus+ course covers the first two days of this course and consolidates the learning with more hands on experience.

Itinerary
Friday Night: Meet, discuss equipment optional Winter Hillwalking DVD

Saturday: 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.
Saturday Eve: Mountain Navigation and Avalanche Awareness Talk

Sunday: 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.

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 weekend is approximately £10-20.

Transport
We will be based in Nethy Bridge, which is about 10 miles from 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
We will be based at the Lazy Duck Hostel, which we have sole occupancy for the duration of the course. The Hostel is a cosy, self-catering 8 bed hostel with all the facilities required for the weekend course. If you would like to make alternative accommodation arrangements - this is no problem. The course will start and finish at the hostel and will host an evening talk and Winter Essentials DVD evening. Friday and Saturday night included. Sunday possibly available on request.

Pre-Requisits
A reasonable level of fitness and/or willing to be out and about in the Scottish Winter Mountains. Summer hillwalking experience recommended.

Ratio 1:6 (max 1:8)