4 day Winter Skills Course & Snowholing Expedition

Our Four day winter skills and snowholing training courses in the Cairngorms, Aviemore & throughout Scotland are designed to ensure you have the skills and knowledge to travel safely in the high mountains in winter conditions. All our four day courses also include a Snowholing expedition in Aviemore & the Cairngorms or wherever looks best in Scotland weather and conditions permitting. These essential skills will be learned and developed throughout your chosen course. The Winter Skills days will utilise the Cairngorms to teach you the fundamentals of hill walking in Winter conditions.

You will get to develop your winter skills and learn new techniques. These include navigation, use of crampons & ice axes, walking safely in the snow, snow-pack analysis, the use of transceivers (including search and rescue techniques), emergency shelters/snowholing expeditions, introduction to rope work, & avalanche awareness/evaluation.

Our winter skills are based at the Cairngorms Adventure Centre and use the Northern Corries and Cairngorm Plateau, one of Scotland’s finest and most accessible high mountain areas, thus maximising your learning time. Other areas that we may use are; Creag Meagaidh, Ben Nevis & Glencoe.

Itinerary

Below there is a break down of what you would gain from the Winter Skills Course. We do also offer one and four day Winter Skills Courses as well.

• One Day Scottish Winter Skills Course.
• Winter navigational skills.
• Winter Crampon & ice axe skills .
• Safe mountain walking skills in Scottish winter conditions.
• Snow-pack analysis skills.
• Avalanche awareness/evaluation training.
• Scottish Winter weather evaluation skills.
• Two Day Scottish Winter Skills Courses.
• Emergency Winter Shelters.
• Detailed snow-pack analysis.
• The Use of Transceivers.
• Basic Introduction to Winter Skills Rope Work.
• Four Day Scottish Winter Skills Course
• Search & rescue Scenario.
• Advanced Winter Skills Rope Work.
• 1 night Winter expedition – Skills Snowholing in Aviemore & the Cairngorms, or elsewhere in Scotland.

On the Scotland Winter skills courses/days in Aviemore & the Cairngorms, you will cover the above skills which are crucial to be able to travel safely in the hills. Of course, the skills you will cover on the Winter skills training will depend on the length of your chosen course. With this in mind, see links to the One & Two day Courses.

Winter Skills Information

• 07.45 Groups meet & equipment issued.
• 08.00 Depart for activities
• Courses will finish around 5pm

Included in the Winter Skills Training

• On-course transport.
• Instruction (as outlined).
• Technical equipment (if required).

Not Included in the Training Course

• Accommodation – book directly if required.
• Personal accident Insurance.
• Waterproofs, base layers, warm layers, gloves (x2 pairs at least),.
• 40+L rucksack, hat, balaclava & Ski Goggles.
• Gaiters are desirable.

Pre-Requisites

• Those booking on to the Scotland winter skills training courses in Aviemore & the Cairngorms should have prior mountain walking experience.
• A good level of fitness is extremely beneficial.

Snowholing Expedition Equipment

• For the snowholing expedition in Aviemore & the Cairngorms, the following kit is needed, some as stated can be provided by us if needed.
• Roll Matt -we can supply if required.
• 4 season sleeping bag – bring your own if you have, otherwise we can supply. 
• Bivvy bag- if you have one if not, a plastic survival bag will suffice for one night.
• Stove and cooking equipment – We supply
• Avalanche kit – We supply 

Take a look at our blog post on Snowholing in Scotland.