Winter Skills Weekend Braemar

Get prepared for winter!

Learn the skills required for safe winter hill walking; the use of ice axe and crampons, winter navigation, and avalanche awareness too. We will give advice on getting prepared for winter walking, weather forecasts, decision making and kit.

The skills are coached each day in the context of a mountain journey. The course structure will be fairly flexible dependent on individual aims, weather, underfoot conditions etc. We aim to provide you with a base of knowledge to go out to practice and consolidate.

Prerequisites

This course is aimed as an introduction to winter and ideally you should have summer hill walking experience. Walking in winter requires a good level of fitness.

What we will cover depending on conditions:

· Choosing the right kit for winter

· Personal movement skills on snow

· Use of ice axe whilst walking and how to prevent and stop slips and trips

· Use of crampons

· Winter navigation techniques

· Avalanche awareness, safe route planning

· Emergency procedures

**If the dates don’t work or it’s not quite the right thing for you then why not hire a Private Guide and we can tailor an experience to suit you!

Location

Our minibus can pick up in Ballater and Braemar (subject to availability). For those who are making their own way we will initially meet in the main public carpark in Braemar at 8.45am before enjoying a coffee in The Bothy where we’ll discuss the plan for the weekend. We’ll then head to our training location which will be dependent on weather and underfoot conditions. Please note if the snow gates are closed and you are coming from the south, you might miss the start of the course. We recommend staying in Ballater / Braemar area the night before the event. See our recommended accommodation options here.

Joining Details & Kit

We can provide ice axe, crampons and helmet but you are welcome to bring your own. You will need winter boots capable of taking a crampon.

Click here to see our full kit list.

Joining details and participation forms will be sent out before the course.

Please have a look in our shop, we can post or deliver items to you at the event. All participants receive a 15% discount on goods (except gift vouchers, sale items and books)

Terms and Conditions apply.