The 5 day Summer Mountain Leader Assessment is what all your hard work and preparation has been for. It is our job as experienced trainers and assessors to get the very best out of you during these 5 days. During the week you will be assessed in a holistic fashion of all the skills needed for be a Summer Mountain Leader.
Over the years we have worked hard to develop our assessing skills to make sure that it is as relaxed and as realistic as possible. Any assessment will have an element of neves associated with it but we will do everything in our powers to reduce these so you can perform to the best of your abilities.
Summer Mountain Leader Assessment Programme
During the 5 days we will cover all the main elements of the Summer Mountain Leader syllabus, below is an example programme that will change dependant on weather and group needs.
Day 1 – Introductions, navigation and emergency procedures, water hazards, review of planning exercise.
Day 2 – Steep ground journey looking at leadership, group management, scope of the award and ropework, Expedition Preparation
Day 3 – Expedition, 3 day 2 night wild camping expedition with group management and navigation including poor visibility navigation (possibly night navigation).
Day 4 – Expedition continues.
Day 6 –Return form expedition, degunge,
NB. Leadership, Navigation and Environmental Awareness will be part of every day
NB. Programme can change to suit weather,
Accommodation
Badaguish – Lodges and Wigwams, a wilde variate of accommodation options just outside Aviemore.
Aviemore Youth Hostel – Well located and with a range of dorm rooms and private rooms.
Old Bridge Inn Bunkhouse – Bunkhouse in Aviemore attached to a pub!
Newtonmore Hostel – A small hotel in Newtonmore close to the shops.
Oakwood Caravan and Camping Park – A campsite on the edge of Aviemore but with in walking distance of the the shops, restaurants and pub.
Glenmore Campsite – Campsite next to Loch Morlich
There are also many Hotels, B&B’s and AirBnB’s in and around Aviemore, Kingussie and Newtonmore, in fact too many to list here!
Summer Mountain Leader Assessment Dates
6th to 10th May – Aviemore
14th to 15th & 20th to 22nd September – Aviemore (Split Weekend)
7th to 11th October – Aviemore
Price and Ratios
Cost – £385 per person non residential
Ratio 1:4
Summer ML Assessment - Pre Course Requirements
By now you know the score with this! The Summer Mountain Leader is not an endurance test but you do need to be fit enough to allow you to have 5 consecutive relatively big days in the mountains (3 of which you will be carrying an expedition rucksack) and still have the energy to navigation, manage the group and deal with any issues that arise.
You will also have in excess of 40 Quality Mountain Days, the definition of which and reason for will have been discussed during your training course.
If you have any questions about this please just get in touch.
Kit List and Equipment
You will need to provide your own hill walking clothing and equipment, any specific group kit and technical equipment we will provide. Once you have booked on the course you will be able to access a detailed kit list from the client resource page on this website as well as the Summer Mountain Leader specific resource page.