Mountain Navigation & Hill Skills in Snowdonia
Previous Experience Required: None
Group Size: 4
Ideal For: Any one who wants to learn the skills necessary to navigate and look after themselves in the British mountains. This course also suits people considering undertaking the Summer Mountain Leader qualification.

Navigation skills are essential if you want to be able to enjoy the hills safely in any weather. The skills we cover include preparing a route, setting the map, following a route, reading and interpreting contours, identifying features, taking and following a bearing, estimating time and distance, relocating if lost and micro navigation skills. 

Sample Programme (Subject to change to allow for the weather)

Day One:
We meet at 9:30am in the Pinnacle Cafe in Capel Curig. We will spend half an hour looking at the weather forecast and how that affects our route decision for the day, how to interpret synoptic charts and the types of maps that are available to us.

We then head off into the mountains for a full day out. During the day we will look at the basics of how to use the map and compass moving onto more advanced micro navigation as the day goes on.

By the end of the day you should be happy following a route in any weather, understand how to relocate if you do get lost, take and follow a bearing, estimate the time it will take to follow a route and locate your position on featureless ground.

Day Two:

We will meet at 9:00 am and head off into the mountains again. Options include the Carneddau, the Glyders or Moel Siabod. We will follow a route, navigating individually and as part of a team to reach a summit or two. Along the way we will often take in some steeper ground to suit the members of the group. We will practice relocating when lost, following another navigator, taking and following a bearing, route planning in adverse visibility and also look at the flora and fauna that we find along the way.

The Snowdonia National Park contains some of the finest mountains in England and Wales and is easily accessible from across the UK . For information on getting to Snowdonia and the accommodation options follow this link.

Mountain Weather: It is important to be able to plan your day according to the weather, avoiding ridges in high winds, understanding the difference in temperature between valley and summit and to have a knowledge of the vagaries of mountain weather. Rob will help you to interpret synoptic charts and discuss the various factors that can affect your enjoyment of and safety in the mountains. 

Moving Over Steep Ground: Whilst this is not a scrambling course it is useful to have a basic understanding of the techniques we use to keep us safe on steeper ground. You might even get a taste for it and want to come back on our intro to scrambling course!

Choice and Use of Equipment: You don't need to spend a fortune on flashy gear but knowing what you do need to take with you on the hills is a valuable piece of knowledge. Being under-equipped can be serious if things go pear shaped, but being over-equipped can seriously affect enjoyment!

Food and Water: Knowing what to eat, how much to drink and whether you can drink from streams is an integral part of a mountain day. Rob has written an article on this which you can read on the Instructors Tips page and will give you more information on your course. 

Route Planning & Emergency Procedures: Before you head out for a day on your own it is useful to have an idea of where you are going, how long it will take and how you are going to get there. Rob will talk you through how to plan a route and what to do if things go wrong. 

Dates
See diary page for open course dates. If you have at least two people then you can book a date to suit you on a private course.


Bookings

Length	Location	Price
2 day non residential	Snowdonia	£130 pp	Add to