Earlier this year Aspen became a provider of something called the Mountain Training Hill and Mountain Skills Courses. Mountain Training is the Awarding body for skill courses and qualifications in walking, climbing and mountaineering, that operates across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The Hill and Mountain Skills Courses are two separate courses (16 and 18 hours long) that are designed to equip people with the skills and knowledge to go hill and mountain walking. They are introductory courses, giving an insight into:
- Planning a hill or mountain walk
- Walking skills
- Clothing and Equipment
- Weather
- Navigation
- Environmental Knowledge
- Hazards and Emergency Procedures.
In the last two months Aspen has run two Mountain Skills courses, one for a group of Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants, as part of a residential; and a second for members of Glasgow HF Outdoor Club. We’ve run the courses in the Southern Highlands on hills like the Cobbler in the Arrochar Alps, Cruach Ardrain, Meall Nan Tarmachan and Sgiath Chuill near Killin.
We’ve been practicing skills like contour interpretation, compass bearings, and gauging distance using pacing and timing. Spot of night navigation too!
We’ve been developing participants walking skills, improving footwork, and developing balance on steep and uneven ground.
We’ve been teaching participants about the environment: like tree identification, learning about different rock types, and developing an understanding of different land uses like deer and grouse management, hillsheep farming, and foresty.
We’ve been developing knowledge of clothing and equipment, what to take hillwalking at different times of year to keep you and your group safe and comfortable.
We’ve also been teaching participants about planning walks taking into consideration different mountain areas and what they have to offer, learning about mountain bothies, and developing an understanding of weather systems and forecasting.
If you’d like to take part in a course, get in touch with me or Jen. Courses can be organised on request for groups of participants or individuals can book on open courses that we run from time to time. Our next open course is planned for May 2024.
