Event Features
This is a two-day, two-night residential run from Friday evening to Sunday. Two full days on the hill with coaching with our training by Winter Mountain Leaders. The base for the training is Badaguish Outdoor Centre, Aviemore, Scotland. Our hill venue is the Northern Cairngorms. Event features:
- Develop your snowcraft skills: use of crampons, kicking steps, cutting steps, ice axe self arrest, movement skillls and more.
- Learn about winter kit and equipment
- Explore the Cairngorms, the largest mountain range in Britain
- Full board accommodation, all meals included
- Specialist winter equipment included ice axe, crampons, helmet
- Max 10 participants
Skills
We will cover the following skills over the two-day residential:
- Kit and Equipment
- Understanding the Be Avalanche Aware process and developing an understanding of snow types and snowpack structure
- Planning a winter hill walk, including weather and avalanche forecasting
- Snowcraft and walking skills: kicking steps in ascent and descent; selection and carriage of ice axe; cutting steps uphill and downhill; ice axe-self arrest; selection and fitting of crampons; movement up, down, and across slopes using crampons.
- Emergency snow shelters
- Winter hazards – cornice collapse, avalanche-prone slopes, hypothermia, frostbite, high winds, icy verglassed slopes.
Kit and Equipment - What to bring
We can provide the following kit to you:
- Ice axe
- crampons
- Ski poles
- Gaiters
- Helmet
- Map
Please bring the following items of kit (for more info see this blog):
- Winter boots
- Waterproof jacket and trousers (or salopettes)
- Hat, balaclava, neck buff
- Two pairs of warm gloves (ski glove type). Mittens are a good idea too.
- Thermal leggings/trousers. Merino wool or Fleece. Polyester (gym-type) leggings are not warm enough!
- Thermal base long-sleeve top (merino wool) and two thermal jumpers/tops (fleece for example. No hoodies). Your second thermal jumper/top could be a down or synthetic down jacket.
- 40-litre rucksack
- Water bottle
- Flask (500ml is fine)
- Sunglasses
- Sun cream
- Map case
- Spare clothes for the hostel (T-shirts, jeans, hoodies etc)
- Towel and toiletries.
Day by Day Itinerary
FRIDAY - Arrival
Badaguish, near AviemoreArrival at 6pm, evening meal provided, then briefing for the skills weekend ahead. We shall also issue kit (crampons, ice axe, helment etc) and review the weather and avalanche forecast for Saturday.
Day 1 Photos
SATURDAY - Introduction to Winter Skills
Northern Corries- Introduction to winter skills, kit and equipment.
- Short outdoor session – winter footwork, avalanche awareness.
- Evening session on winter weather and hazards.
Day 2 Photos
SUNDAY - Improving Snowcraft Skills and Mountain Journey
Northern CairngormsToday we will develop our snowcraft skills and go on a mountain journey, weather depending, venturing onto the Cairngorm plateay and bagging a summit.
Day 3 Photos