Introduction to Winter Skills Weekend

Introduction to Winter Skills Weekend Aviemore, Cairngorms, Scotland

Graeme Nimmo – Winter Mountain Leader
Mark Reid FRGS – author of ‘The Inn Way’ guidebooks & Mountain Leader

Want to explore the British mountains in winter? This 2-day Introduction to Winter Skills Weekend will enable you to do just that!

Spend 2 days learning Core Winter Skills and then put them into practice on a mountain journey in the magnificent Cairngorms National Park hiking some of Scotland’s most magnificent mountains in winter. This course is ideal for walkers who want to move their walking from the mountains in summer conditions to hills and mountains in winter.

The course is designed to introduce you to a range of core skills that will enable you to enjoy the British mountains in winter. No prior winter walking knowledge is required as you’ll learn the core winter walking skills: winter boots, crampon & ice axe use, understanding the winter mountain environment and key winter navigation skills whilst enjoying a wonderful winter walking weekend in the Scottish mountains.

Fantastic weekend of guided mountain walks with Graeme Nimmo (Winter ML).
Experience the magnificence of the Scottish mountains in winter.
Share your sense of achievement on the mountain summits with your fellow walkers.
Gain and skills and confidence to go walking in the hills and mountains in winter.
Ideal for summer hillwalkers who want to move their walking to the hills and mountains in winter.
Small group size – max 8 people.

ABOUT THE 2-DAY COURSE

Day One – learn core Winter Skills for winter hill & mountain walking

Planning and preparation for a winter mountain day
Avalanche and weather forecasts
Winter kit (what kit to have, how to use it and why carry it)
Staying safe on the mountains in winter, including emergency procedures
Winter Boots, Crampon and Ice Axe use, including self arrest
Key winter navigation skills

Day Two – head out to the Cairngorms for a full day’s Mountain Journey

Put your new skills into practice on a full day’s winter mountain journey.
Understand the dynamic nature of the mountains in winter – changeable weather, visibility, terrain and avalanche risk.
Develop your winter navigation skills and decision making.

ESSENTIAL WINTER KIT

You will need to provide your own Essential Winter Kit for this walking week, including:

Winter Walking Boots (either B1 or B2 boots)
Crampons (C1 or C2)
Ice axe
Goggles

The hire of this Essential Winter Kit is not included in the course fee, as some people may already have their own kit. There are outdoor shops at Aviemore that hire out winter kit, including: Ellis Brigham / Tiso / Braemar Mountain Sports / Nevisport

We will send you a comprehensive Winter Kit List when you book. We will provide you with a helmet, maps and a compass. If you are using your own Winter Kit then we will need to check your kit to ensure it is suitable.

AVIEMORE, SCOTLAND

This 2-day Introduction to Winter Skills Weekend will be based at mountain resort town of Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park. Aviemore offers a range of accommodation including pubs, hotels, B&Bs, Youth Hostels, campsites. There is a train station at Aviemore. For more information Discover Aviemore

The course will be based at Aviemore Youth Hostel where we will meet for planning and preparation sessions, although you may wish to stay elsewhere. We’d recommend staying at this Youth Hostel, as it is convenient and has great facilities.

OVERVIEW OF THE WEEKEND

SATURDAY MORNING – Planning & Preparation (Aviemore Youth Hostel)
9am – 12 noon: Preparation, planning, routes, winter navigation, emergency procedures, avalanche awareness, checking the snow pack, winter weather forecasts, winter kit check, understanding the winter environment.
12 noon – 12:30pm: Lunch break

SATURDAY AFTERNOON – Key Winter Walking Skills (Cairn Gorm)
12:30pm: Car share to starting point.
1pm – 5pm: We’ll head to the snow slopes of the Northern Corries around the Cairn Gorm Ski Centre. Introduction to Key Winter Skills to allow you to move safely across the hills and mountains in winter conditions. Winter Skills will include personal movement skills, use of winter boots (step kicking), crampon and ice axe use (step cutting and self arrest). There will be time to practice your new skills out on the mountains as you develop your movement skills in winter conditions.
5:30pm – 7:30pm: Free time to check into your accommodation, settle in and get a meal
7:30pm – 8:30pm: Recap of the day. Weather & avalanche forecast, planning and preparation for the following day (Aviemore Youth Hostel)

SUNDAY – Consolidation Winter Walking Skills
8:30am: Meet at Aviemore. Car share to starting point.
9am – 5pm: Mountain journey into the Cairngorms, with a focus on developing and consolidating the skills learned the previous day, with a focus on personal movement skills, use of winter boots, crampon and ice axe use as well as key winter navigation skills whilst on a mountain journey in winter.

All timings are approximate.

NB: The itinerary, routes & mountains will be decided each day, given weather conditions and group needs, therefore this itinerary may be subject to change at short notice. All walks will include mountainous terrain, steep ground & mountain summits in winter conditions, including adverse winter weather of snow, ice, strong winds, poor visibility & significant windchill. It is a 30-minute drive from Aviemore to the Cairn Gorm Ski Centre; we’ll car share wherever possible. We may travel further afield to reach other mountain areas if weather conditions are favourable, such as Creag Meagaidh in the Monadhliath Mountains (45-minute drive).

YOUR GUIDE - MARK REID

EXPERIENCE, FITNESS & INFORMATION

Your Guide for this Winter Skills & Walking Week is GRAEME NIMMO, a fully qualified and insured Winter Mountain Leader. Mark Reid is attending as a group member and competent assistant, as Mark holds the Summer Mountain Leader Award.
Please provide your own Winter Walking Kit: Winter Boots (B1 or B2), crampons, ice axe and goggles. We can provide full outdoor walking gear, including waterproof jackets, trousers, fleeces, rucksacks, gloves and hats, if required.
This course is designed for walkers who want to move their walking from the British mountains in summer conditions to hills and mountains in winter. The course will introduce you to a range of core skills to enable you to enjoy the British mountains in winter. No prior winter walking knowledge is required as this course will cover the core winter walking skills.
A good level of fitness is required as there will be two days of winter mountain walking, which will be physically demanding and include steep and mountainous terrain and possibly deep snow and very cold conditions.
WINTER CONDITIONS. All walks will include uneven ground, rough, rocky and remote mountainous terrain, stream crossings, wet ground, snow fields, ice, sustained ascents and descent, steep and exposed ground and mountain summits in winter conditions; we will also experience adverse winter weather conditions, including snow and ice on the ground, falling snow, strong winds, very cold temperatures, significant wind chill and poor visibility due to cloud, falling snow and spindrift (with the possibility of whiteout conditions).
We are fully insured (public, civil & professional indemnity insurance)
All of our instructors are fully qualified and experienced Mountain Leaders
So far, we have taken over 19,000 people out walking in the hills, and have a wealth of experience dealing with all ages and abilities.
Part of the attraction of valley, hill and mountain walking is the challenge of tackling different terrains, landscapes and weather conditions. Every effort is made to minimize potential hazards; however, the very nature of hill and mountain walking involves a certain level of unavoidable risk of accident and/or injury. By taking part in this activity, you are aware of and accept these risks.
Our walks are suitable for all ages. Under 18s (minimum age 14) may attend if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The child must be accompanied at all times during the walk by their parent/legal guardian.
Terms and Conditions