Advanced winter climbing course in Scotland

5 day advanced winter climbing course perfect to Improve your mountain skills. A certified instructor will help you upgrade your climbing skills!

5 Days

Jan - Mar

Description

Join my advanced winter climbing course if you have previous experience in winter climbing and want to improve your technique!

In this performance 5 day course I will help you climb as many grade III to V routes as possible. Also, if you come in pairs I will coach you in leading through harder routes. All of which we'll be doing while enjoying the wonders of the Scottish highlands!

Throughout the advanced winter climbing course I will teach you to develop your climbing toolbox. I'll also instruct you on how to use your technical axes on steep mixed ground. In addition, I will show you how to be efficient and save energy on steeper ice. And you will also learn how to choose your gear appropriately, which can make a difference at this level.

After a short revision session and skill check I will guide you through the whole planning of a intermediate winter climbing day out. Also I will teach advanced ropework, building winter belays, safe retreats and avalanche awareness.

My advanced winter climbing course is also focused to climbing pairs. I can offer to mix great climbs with coaching of their own leading on harder routes. So remember that coaching leading is only open to pairs coming up together.

I have great experience climbing all around the world. And specially in the Highland area of Scotland, where I have even put up a couple of new routes. I know the area like the back of my hand. So I am waiting to guide you through some brilliant winter climbs grade II to V away from the usual honeypots.

Please contact me if you are looking to reach a higher level of mountain and ice climbing!

And remember that I also offer easier mountaineering trips such as Climbing in the Cuillin and a Mountaineering course.

Price includes

Guiding fee

Itinerary

Day 1: Check and first climb

First, I will check your your climbing kits and do a essential skill revision. Then we’ll climb a grade III/IV mixed route.

Day 2: Ice axe technique

I’ll focus on your ice axe technique as we climb a grade IV ice or mixed route. Torquing and hooking on mixed terrain, efficient movement on steeper ice, as well as placing ice screws one-handed.

Day 3: Safe retreat and ice route

I’ll be teaching safe retreat from winter climbs. If we did a mixed route the day before, today will do an ice route or vice versa.

Day 4: Leading on grade III

You’ll be able to choose between a coached leading on grade III or seconding grade IV/V.

Day 5: Putting the new skills in practice

We’ll consolidate the leading skills from previous day or a harder seconding route such as Ben Nevis ice climb.

Details

More info

Level: Previous winter climbing experience, ideally to Grade III.

Equipment: -Socks. A medium to thick pair of synthetic or wool/synthetic blend socks. -Thermal/Base Layers. A couple of thermal layers are useful, along with thermal leggings. -Fleeces. At least one fleece layer for your upper body. Having an extra fleece top or synthetic layer in a waterproof liner at the bottom of your rucksack is essential. -Walking trousers -Warm Hat & Waterproof Gloves -Waterproof jacket and over trousers ( Outer shell clothing) -The trousers should have at least a knee length zip enabling them to be fitted over boots/crampons. -Rucsac. A medium volume sac (35-50 litres) is best for winter climbing, with ice axe carrying loops. -Bivvy Bag -Gaiters or Stop-tous -Head Torch -First Aid kit -Compass/Map -Whistle/Watch Flask -Lunch & Spare Food -Boots. For climbing courses, stiff, crampon compatible boots are required. They should have a stiffness rating of B2 minimum and ideally B3. -Crampons. They should have 12 or 14 points and be compatible with your boots. -Ice Axe -For winter climbing, two technical climbing axes (40-50cm) are required. -Helmet. Please bring one along if you can. We have DMM helmets available. -Harness. Make sure it can be put on over boots and crampons. -Belay device, two HMS Carabiners and one 120cm sling. We can provide you with these if you don’t have your own.

Meeting point

About the guide

Ken

5.0

(19)

Mountain Leader

I gained a good insight into the instruction and guiding of mountaineering activities whilst working as a member of the domestic team at Glenmore Lodge in the summer of 2003. Since then, I have skied, climbed, trekked and mountaineered across the length and breadth of the UK, from Cornwall to the Orkney Isles, and overseas, having sought adventures in China, Mongolia, The Indian Himalayas, New Zealand, Japan, Southern Africa, The Swiss, Italian and French Alps, The Pyrenees, Southern Spain and Norway. I enjoy climbing in all it’s forms, whether it be bouldering at Fontainebleau, sport climbing at Rodellar, trad and winter climbing in the UK or alpine climbing in Switzerland. I have also put up a couple of new routes, Mint Sauce E1 5c in Glen Nevis and Feathered Friend V,5 on Creag Meagaidh.
I have completed my Mountaineering Instructor Certificate (MIC), the highest instructional qualification in the UK, which enable me to work both in summer and winter conditions, whether it’s walking, mountaineering or climbing, and is a full member of both the Association or Mountaineering Instructors, and The Mountain Instructor’s Community. I have also completed my International Mountain Leader Summer Training and have worked as a contracted instructor for Abacus Mountain Guides, Martin Moran, Glenmore Lodge, Mountain Motion, West Coast Mountain Guides, Ardroy Outdoor Education Centre, Adventure Peaks, The Outward Bound Trust, Ryan Glass Mountaineering, Hike Pyrenees, World Challenge Expeditions and Outlook Expeditions.

Languages

English

Certificates

AMI MIC

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What people are saying about Explore-Share

Man

Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!

Maxine

Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.

Valeriya

You’re simply the best!!! :))) Explore-Share made everything easy and stress-free. Will definitely use again.

Joshua

We had Léo as a guide for our day climb in Fonty. We were blessed with a knowledgeable, warm, and instructive guide. Communication with Léo and Ivan was smooth and swift. Explore-Share was excellent in arranging everything for our day climb. The communication was quick, and the platform was easy to use, making our adventure stress-free.

Cami

Patrick was a great guide. He took us on an intermediate Via Ferrata at Passo Sella. Renato was quick to respond with any outreach on the Explore-Share platform. The booking process was straightforward, and once Patrick was confirmed, all went well. It was a wonderful experience, and I’d highly recommend the platform.

4.8