Introduction to Winter Climbing - Cairngorm

This trip will give you a great introduction to winter climbing. Heading out into snow covered hills on a winter's day can be an exhilarating experience, but one that calls for a range of skills to cope with the hazards and challenges that ice and snow bring. Decisions need to be made on the type of equipment needed for the conditions underfoot and for the weather conditions that you are likely to encounter during your outing.

This three day course is designed to give novice or intermediate winter climbers the chance to learn some new skills and brush up on old ones, enabling you to travel safely and enjoy your time in the beautiful Cairngorm Mountains. Some prior winter hill walking experience is necessary, but if you feel rusty, then you can spend the first day refreshing your skills.

• Location: Cairngorms, Aviemore, Scotland.
  
• Duration - 3 days, 3 nights.
  
• Meet on Thursday evening, finish Sunday afternoon.
  
• Trip possible from early January through February.
  
• Comfortable hotel accommodation in a twin room with bed and breakfast.
  
• Either drive to Aviemore or fly to Inverness.
  
• We provide all technical equipment such as crampons, helmets and ice axes.
  
• Experience - winter hill walking experience (if your skills are rusty, then you can spend the 1st day refreshing them).
  
• Expect to climb routes graded between I and III, dependent on aspirations, mountain conditions and past experience.

Over the 3 days you will re-cap the essential winter skills like crampon work, use of ice axe, navigation and avalanche awareness. You will then learn new climbing skills whilst climbing some of the classic climbs of the Cairngorms. Some of the skills covered will be movement technique, belaying skills, gear placements and climbing rope work. You can expect to climb routes between grade I and III over these 3 days depending on aspirations, conditions and past experience.

We normally run this trip over a long weekend, Thursday to Sunday, however if you would like to do this at any other time then please contact us.

You will meet your guide who will be a qualified winter mountaineering instructor when you arrive at your accommodation. At this time they will go through the planned route and carry out an equipment check to ensure you have everything you need to enable you to enjoy the following days.

A typical tour itinerary may look like this:

Please note: This itinerary is a guide only. It can be subject to change dependent upon viability, course members' fitness, weather conditions or for any other reason the guide may deem necessary.

You should have lots of summer walking experience and at least some winter hill walking experience with crampons is necessary. In terms of fitness, the fitter you are the better as winter climbing is physical and mentally challenging - you should be prepared for long days in the cold mountains with a heavy rucksack.

We recommend that you follow a fitness plan in preparation for your challenge, an example of one will be sent to you when you have confirmed your booking.

Although the fitness plan we will send to you has been devised by a fitness professional, this is only provided as a guide and you should seek professional advice before starting your own fitness regime.

A detailed kit list will be issued once we confirm your booking.

This course can be completed anytime in January until the end of February. The Northern Cairngorms offers some of the most accessible winter climbing in the United Kingdom and is a reliable venue for conditions early in the season.

This trip is available for individuals and groups. You can request the date for when you want to take part in the trip.

Dates for 2012 are:

If the date you want is fully booked or not listed please contact us by clicking on the link below - we may still be able to help!

For 1 person booking on a trip we will advertise the trip here and upon meeting minimum numbers (2) confirm the trip.

For 2 people booking we will run an exclusive trip.

All requested dates are unconfirmed until minimum numbers have been booked.

This course can be completed anytime in January until the end of February. The Northern Cairngorms offers some of the most accessible winter climbing in the United Kingdom and is a reliable venue for conditions early in the season.

This trip is available for individuals and groups. You can request the date for when you want to take part in the trip.

Dates for 2012 are:

If the date you want is fully booked or not listed please contact us by clicking on the link below - we may still be able to help!

For 1 person booking on a trip we will advertise the trip here and upon meeting minimum numbers (2) confirm the trip.

For 2 people booking we will run an exclusive trip.

All requested dates are unconfirmed until minimum numbers have been booked.

• Professional organisation of the event.
  
• Course run by a holder of the Mountain Instructors Certificate
  
• Briefings, route planning and equipment checks to make sure that you have everything you need.
  
• Three nights twin hotel accommodation with breakfast. Single rooms are available for a supplement.
  
• Inverness Airport transfers are available for a supplement.
• Use of winter technical equipment except boots.
  
• Group first aid with qualified first aiders.

2012 Price  - £599pp