Alan Dorward is a Senior instructor with Aspen Outdoors Ltd. I met up with him mid February 2024 to talk to him about his forthcoming Winter Mountain Leader (WML) assessment, due to take place the following week. The Winter Mountain Leader Award is a professional qualification for leading groups of hillwakers in winter conditions in the British Isles. It is generally considered to be one of the toughest and most demanding outdoor qualifications to get: involving lots of time out in uncomfortable, cold, windy, snowy conditions; requiring sound leadership; and, a high level of navigation skill.
The Award generally takes a few years to get. One needs to have gained the Mountain Leader Award first, before registering for the Winter Mountain Leader Awaed Scheme. Twenty quality winter mountain days (QMDs) need to be logged before undertaking the week long winter training course. The next stage is the called the consolidation phase, perhaps the most important bit of all, where you get out and practice, log more mountain days, and prepare for the last component, a five day assessment. More information on what’s involved is set out in this blog.
Speaking to him, just before his assessment (due to happen 19-23 Feb 2024) I wanted to find out what its been like getting ready for assessment, what his preperation has involved and how he was feeling about his readiness for the week long assessment.
Why did you decide to do the Winter Mountain Leader Award?
I wanted to do my Winter Mountain Leader Award for two reasons, for personal development reasons and to give me more scope to work in the outdoors. Having been through my Summer Mountain Leader Award a few years ago I felt I could challenge myself further. I felt like the Winter ML would push me to improve my navigation, develop my winter skills and generally make me a better mountain leader.
How long has it taken to get ready for assessment?
I did my Winter ML training in January 2023 and ‘am about to do my assessment 13 months later, in Feb 2024.
What’s your approach been to your consolidation period?
I have had a few goals and a few do’s and don’t to guide my consolidation period. I’ve not waited for good weather for example. I’ve made a point in getting out in a wide range of weather conditions. I’ve sought to get out of my comfort zone and challenge myself. I’ve tried to visit a wide range of mountain areas; the Cairngorms, Glencoe, Torridon, Lochaber, the Central Highlands and Southern Highlands. I’ve set myself the goal of doing lots of grade 1 climbs, on one day I actually managed to squeeze in four in a day. I set myself the challenge of doing a snow hole expedition (which turned into an igloo expedition). I wanted to develop avalanche awareness through the consolidation period, learning through observation on the hill, through my own research and reading and through doing some extra avalanche workshops. Shadowing has been part of my plan too, observing Winter Mountain Leaders coaching and leading clients. I’ve also sought to do a bunch of hills solo as well as getting out my peers. Lastly I’ve tried to get lots of practice in for the technical elements of the syllabus, like ropework.
How many QMDs have you done to be ready for assessment?
I have 50 quality mountain days in my log book and 17 of them were done in the last year. I’d say 30 have been done in the last two years. I’ve been pretty strict with my QMDs, only logging stuff that fully meets the criteria: ensuring the day is sufficently long, that I’m on a hill that’s new to me, that I am learning new stuff and that it’s properly winter conditions. Over the last year I’ve done 30 winter hill days, but only half have met the criteria as quality days. The rest have been too short, or been on familiar ground, or maybe haven’t involved the ascent of a summit.
What’s been the most valuable learning experience on your journey towards assessment?
One of the best learning experiences was on Buchaille Etive Mor with another WML candidate. We had storm force winds and it was physically really hard. I was certainly out of my comfort zone, but we had prepared well and we coped. I got a lot of confidence from knowing I could function and navigate and look after myself (and my friend) in those conditions.
What’s the best bit of advice you can give to someone wanting to do the Winter Mountain Leader Award?
Get out as much as possible! Get out in all weathers! Don’t wait for good weather days!
Do a winter skills / navigation course before you do your WML training.
And lastly, work on your personal admin, it makes for less stress, leaving you more able to focus on more important things, like navigation.
And lastly, how are you feeling about the assessment?
I am feeling positive. I’ve kept revisiting the syllabus and I think I have covered everything. I could have done more shadowing and maybe more teaching and instruction, but in terms of the technical skills, navigation, avalanche awareness and functioning in the winter mountain environment, I think I’ve done enough to be ready for assessment.
POSTSCRIPT…….He passed! Well done Alan.
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