The Winter Mountain Leader Training is the first official step on the journey to becoming a qualified Winter Mountain Leader and being able to introduce and share the amazing mountains of Scotland, Wales and England with others in winter.
The 6 day course will cover leadership skills in the mountains like managing a group around the hazards the mountains present, steep ground and snow anchors as well as planning and use if the Be Avalanche Aware model. Personal skills like navigation, movement on steep ground and snow holing will also be developed.
Before attending a course candidates need to register with Mountain Training Scotland for the Winter Mountain Leader Award. More information on the award and to register click here.
Winter Mountain Leader Course Programme
During the 6 days we will cover all the main elements of the Winter Mountain Leader Training syllabus, below is an example programme.
Day 1 – Introductions, then a mountain journey looking at the key skills of personal movement and passing this knowledge onto client.
Day 2 –Weather and Avalanche Observations, then a mountain journey developing to topics covered on day 1 NB. This day will have a later start allowing for some night navigation.
Day 3 – Security on Steep Ground, a day looking at possible anchor options and Winter ML Ropework.
Day 4 – Steep Ground Journey: A journey involving scenarios allowing group management issues (both roped and unroped) on steep ground.
Day 5&6 – Expedition phase to include more night navigation. Return form expedition, degunge, course and individual debriefs + action plan completion.
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!
Winter Mountain Leader Course Dates 2024
14th to 19th January – Aviemore
4th to 9th February – Aviemore
4th to 9th March – Aviemore
Price and Ratio
Cost – £375 per person non residential
Ratio 1:6
Winter Mountain Leader - Pre Course Experience
You will have gained your 20 QMD’s so you will have a good idea of what is coming! It is a 6 day course and whilst we will not cover huge distances everyday, rather focusing on teaching and coaching you should not underestimate the physical nature of winter and 6 days in the mountains on the trot.
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 Winter Mountain Leader specific resource page.