Shearwater Adventure Training

Winter Skills Weekend

This 2-day course provides the summer hill walker with all the skills required to make a safe transition to winter hill walking. These courses are conducted in The Cairngorms and The Lake District, depending on conditions, and cover winter navigation, boot and crampon techniques, use of the ice axe, avalanche awareness, winter weather, winter clothing and equipment as well as emergency shelters and procedures.

WHO IS THE WINTER SKILLS WEEKEND COURSE FOR?

This is a must course for anyone wishing to explore the mountains in winter conditions. Previous summer mountain walking experience is required in order to understand the practical navigation sessions.

Winter Skills Week

This course incorporates the skills from the Winter Walking Weekend course and adds additional skills essential for safe guarding yourself in the mountain environment.

Whilst further developing your existing winter skills, you will be taught winter route selection and develop your winter navigation strategies. In addition, you will explore avalanche awareness techniques and gain the skills for using a rope in an emergency situation such as simple belay construction and basic rope management.

WHO IS THE WINTER SKILLS WEEK COURSE FOR?

This is the ultimate course for developing and learning new winter skills. You should ideally have summer hill walking experience in order to benefit fully from the teaching sessions. This is a very physical course with multiple days on the hill, so be prepared!

Winter Climbing

Winter climbing is an exhilerating and rewarding activity. During your course your instructor will design your days around your requirements and experience. This could include learning essential winter climbing techniques or advanced climbing skills. You will also have the opportunity to climb some of the finest scottish routes if conditions allow and fulfil some your personal climbing aspirations.

In addition, your instructor will recap on the essential winter core skills, crampon and technical ice axe use, avalanche awareness, winter navigation and escaping from multi pitch winter routes.

WHO IS THE WINTER CLIMBING COURSE FOR?

This is a must course for anyone wishing to experience and challenge themselves on winter climbing. Previous winter climbing or rock climbing experience would be ideal (but not essential) in order to fully benefit from the teaching sessions.