OVERVIEW

Our 3-day winter mountaineering course will help you develop your movement skills, looking at Grade I/II terrain (scrambling), basic rope-work, constructing snow anchors and abseiling with them, navigation strategies, avalanche awareness, weather and its implications for route choice.

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Duration

3 days.

Location

Fort William, West Highlands.

Price

£495/person.

Dates

2025.
Tbc
Other dates available upon request

STILL GOT QUESTIONS?

If you are unsure whether this to course is suitable for you. Please contact us – info@riseandsummit.co.uk or call 07775 853 348. We will be happy to help. Or visit our useful information section here.

TYPICAL WINTER MOUNTAINEERING COURSE LAYOUT

Each day of our winter mountaineering course we would spend time assessing the weather, snow and avalanche conditions, in order to learn about safe route planning and detecting potential avalanche terrain.

DAY 1

We will briefly look at ice axe and crampon use, movement on snow and ice, navigation and how to keep yourself safe in a winter environment.  We will introduce rope work used in mountaineering and how to build anchors and when to use them.

DAY 2

We look at consolidating the skills learnt on day one, and we go on a journey.  Looking at some steeper terrain, putting some of the rope work skills into practice, and improving our personal movement on steeper terrain.

DAY 3

We will look at consolidating all of the skills learnt, and will try and pass some of the ownership over to you, i.e. route planning.  And will hopefully be venturing into Grade II terrain.  Hopefully by the end of our winter mountaineering course, you will have the confidence to go out by yourself.

The course content and location tends to be dictated to us by the weather, so the winter mountaineering course layout can change.

If you are unsure whether the winter mountaineering course is suitable for you, please do not hesitate to contact us on info@riseandsummit.co.uk or call us on 07775 853 348, and we would be happy to help.

COURSE DETAILS

Our 3-day winter mountaineering course will help you develop your movement skills, looking at Grade I/II terrain (scrambling), basic rope-work, constructing snow anchors and abseiling with them, navigation strategies, avalanche awareness, weather and its implications for route choice.

On our winter mountaineering course, we will cover the following areas:

  • Further development of your movement skills on snow, ice and rock
  • Movement over Grade I/II terrain
  • Basic rope-work and belaying (using a sling and carabiner)
  • Constructing snow anchors, and their uses
  • Rock anchors
  • Abseiling using snow anchors
  • Winter navigation
  • Decision making
  • Emergency snow shelters and snow-holes

We will also be looking at:

  • Planning a journey and route choice
  • Weather forecasting and knowledge
  • Avalanche awareness
  • Clothing and equipment
COURSE DURATION

The winter mountaineering course is 3 days long, and is run in the West Highlands, using Fort William as a base. The client-to-instructor ratio does not exceed 3:1, to ensure that we can give you our fullest attention.

All of our courses are tailored to suit your availability and experience, taking into account any individual needs and fitness levels.

COURSE LOCATION

Fort William, Scottish Highlands.

KIT

We will discuss any specific kit requirements with you when you make a booking.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

This course is suitable for anyone who has had some winter hillwalking experience.  Or who has attended a winter skills course. We adapt the course to your specific requirements, though it’s as well to bear in mind that winter conditions in the Scottish Highlands can be demanding, and a fair degree of fitness and determination would be beneficial. If in doubt about whether the course is suitable for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Ready to book?

PLEASE NOTE: Selection of dates is ‘preferred only’. We will only take payment once dates have been agreed. Upon agreement we will only then collect payment. Please contact us with any questions:

info@riseandsummit.co.uk | 07775 853 348.