Location: Scotland - Fort William
Price: £395 per person
Ratio: 1:2
Length: 3 days

Who is the course suitable for?
Our Scottish winter climbing course is for folk who have some previous winter mountaineering experience and some rock climbing experience and want to progress to snow and ice climbing. The aim of the course is to climb routes from grade III to V during the 3 days, picking the best routes we can in the conditions that we get.

What does the course cover?
The course aims to introduce summer climbers with experience of winter mountaineering to winter climbing. Skills covered include:
- Use of two axes
- Movement skills on steep snow and ice
- Winter belays
- Using pegs and fiixed equipment
- Winter route finding
- Descent from the crag
- Avalanche avoidance
- Mixed, snow and ice skills
- Efficient winter ropework

Sample Programme

Opening Night: We will meet and have a pre-course chat and a beer, get settled in and check out the weather and conditions for the week ahead.

Day One: Kit check & discussion 
Each day we will use weather and avalanche reports to make route plans for that day. This helps you to develop your own self sufficiency. We will aim to get a route done on the first day and refresh basic ice axe and crampon skills.

Days Two and Three:
We will head out and climb some of the best grade III to V routes in the West Highlands, perhaps travelling across to the Cairngorms if necessary. We will climb a variety of routes from gullies to buttresses, pure ice to mixed and involve you in our decision making along the way. We will teach you efficient ropework, gear placement, belay building and of course how to get off the climb at the end of the day. Typical Routes might include (subject to conditions):

>Twisting Gully, Stob Coire nan Lochan (II/III)
>Tower Scoop, Ben Nevis (III)
>Left Twin, Aonach Mor (III)
> SC Gully Stob Coire nan Lochan (III)
> Green Gully, Ben Nevis (IV, 4)
> Comb Gully, Ben Nevis (IV, 4)
> The Cascade, Ben Nevis (V, 4)

We will choose the routes based on both clients aspirations, abilities and of course the prevailing conditions.

Where is the course held?
We run the course in the Highlands of Scotland from our winter base in Fort William. We are very handy for Ben Nevis, Aonach Mor and Glen Coe and will often make the most of the ski centre chairlifts on the first day to maximise the time spent on the snow.

What about accommodation?
Accommodation is not provided as this allows us to keep the course cost low and you can then arrange accommodation to suit your budget. For a range of accommodation options visit this link.

I have two beds available to rent in the cottage that I rent for the season for £75 per week each on a first come first served self catering basis. Email or call me if you want to get in quick!

Equipment
I will provide you with a comprehensive kit list when you book. You will need to provide your own basic muntaineering kit including rucksack, waterproofs etc. I can provide ice axes, crampons and all of the climbing equipment free of charge but you are also welcome to use your own. You will need your own B3 rated boots for this course. The following articles may be useful:
Winter Climbing Top Tips
Fitting new crampons to your boots
Kit lists & whats included (rough guide only - please refer to course notes for exact kit list)

Staffing
I hold the MIC. Not sure what this means - follow this link. I run all of the winter mountaineering and climbing courses myself.


Travel to Fort William
There is a mainline rail station at Fort William and we can collect you at the start of the course and deposit you back there at the end. You can also fly to Glasgow and there is a link here for our travel options page which gives details of airports, coach and train companies and road links.

Previous Experience & Fitness
These courses are strenuous and you need to be physically fit to get the most from them. A little bit of training in the form of cycling, running or swimming beforehand will pay dividends!

You should be a competent second rock climber in summer conditions, able to tie into a harness, belay from above and below and in winter be happy walking in crampons and with an ice axe.

You should also have some experience of winter mountaineering on grade I and II routes, our winter mountaineering course is an ideal stepping stone. We will then teach you the additional skills required to second winter climbs.

If you have any questions about booking a course then please just call or email. Booking is a simple two stage process:

1. Choose a date.
Individuals - visit the diary page for details of open course availability
Groups of 2 or more - Call or email to arrange a date to suit you -

2. Book the course
Online: You can book online securely by clicking on the "buy now" button
or
Download a postal booking form from our booking page.

If you are booking more than 8 weeks in advance you can choose to pay a deposit of £100 to secure your booking. Click here to pay a deposit.