Winter Walking Courses | Winter Skills | Winter Mountaineering Courses | Lake District | Cumbria

WINTER COURSES

This is Summitreks 26th year of running winter courses in the Lake District.

Course  Director
Ron Rutland MIC is an MIC holder, the highest instruction award available in the UK. He has operated courses of this type for over 30 years, with numerous alpine and Himalayan expeditions completed including Everest, Makalu, Cho-Oyo, Manaslu and Shishapangma you will be guaranteed a first class safe experience.

Senior Tutor
Paddy Cave MIC
Paddy is one of the very top winter performers having made numerous first ascents in the Alps and Himalaya. Paddy is in charge of Summitreks winter programme and you can be sure that you will be given instruction that is safe inventive and meaningful.

Last Winter was excellent with great snow conditions on the high fells throughout the winter months. Summitreks courses proved very popular and we strongly recommend advance booking to ensure you secure places.

WINTER COURSES :-WINTER HILLWALKING OR WINTER MOUNTAINEERING

WINTER HILLWALKING RESIDENTIAL - 2 Days (Based at Derwentwater Hostel, Borrowdale, Nr Keswick ) Click here to visit Derwentwater Hostel website

For adults only, if your hill walking experience has been mainly in summer conditions then this course provides the ideal introduction to winter hill walking. It provides you with the key skills you will need. Hill walking in winter is an enjoyable and rewarding activity but it does require special skills to enjoy the hills in safety. You will learn how to use ice axe and crampons, including self arrest practice on steep ground, navigate in winter conditions and deal with survival situations. Plus you get expert advice on winter gear.

This course is less technical and not as physically demanding as Summitreks Winter Mountaineering course. The course includes the first part of the National Navigation Award Scheme. Assessment is available for those who wish to complete it. The fully inclusive price includes all instruction, full board accommodation at Derwentwater Hostel and the hire of ice axes, crampons and helmets.

Residential (with Full Board Accommodation at Derwent Water Hostel, Borrowdale, Nr Keswick )

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Click here to download the itinerary and kit list.

Click here for how to book

WINTER HILLWALKING - 2 Day Non-Residential Course

For adults only, Summitreks also offers an option of a Non-Residential course . The price for this option includes the instruction , hire of ice axes, crampons and helmets.

Non-Residential Course

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Weekend Dates

Click here to download the itinerary and kit list.

Click here for how to book.

WINTER MOUNTAINEERING -2 Days(Based at Derwentwater Hostel, Borrowdale, Nr Keswick ) Click here to visit Derwentwater Hostel website

For adults only, this is a course designed for those with some experience of winter hill walking who wish to develop and consolidate their skills and do more challenging mountaineering routes. In addition to reviewing the correct use of ice axes and crampons and how to arrest a slip or fall Summitreks teach you rope skills including how to move safely securing a team on steep ground using ropes and belaying techniques. Summitreks also teach you the skills needed to navigate safely in winter conditions, assess mountain hazards e.g. avalanche risk and deal with survival situations.

This course is more technical than the Winter Skills course and the instructor to client ratio is lower. The fully inclusive price includes all instruction, full board accommodation at Derwentwater and the hire of ice axes, crampons, helmets, harnesses and all technical gear.

Residential (with full board accommodation at Derwentwater ):

Click here to download the itinerary and kit list.

Click here for how to book

Recommendations from previous course participants

Winter Skills Courses
Rob from Newcastle
"My girlfriend and I had a fantastic weekend, learnt how to use ice axes and crampons properly".

Malcolm from Morecambe
"I had such a brilliant time on the course, the instructor was highly professional and extremely informative. The course was delivered in an exuberant manner, we learnt so much from him".

Winter Mountaineering Course
Peter
"I had the most amazing time and learnt a lot, putting skills learnt into practice, we were certainly tested when there was a white out - Brilliant!".