Winter Walking Courses | Winter Skills | Winter Mountaineering Courses | Lake District | Cumbria 2012

WINTER COURSES

This is our 25th 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 our 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. Our courses proved very popular and we strongly recommend advance booking to ensure you secure places.

WINTER COURSES :-WINTER SKILLS FOR THE HILLS OR WINTER MOUNTAINEERING

WINTER SKILLS FOR THE HILLS - 2 Days (Based at Hellvellyn YHA nr Glenridding - Ullswater )

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’ll need. Hill walking in winter is an enjoyable and rewarding activity but it does require special skills to enjoy the hills in safety. You’ll 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 our 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 full board accommodation at YHA Hellvellyn and the loan of ice axes, crampons, and helmets.

Residential Price (with Full Board Accommodation at Hellvellyn YHA nr Glenridding - Ullswater) £225.00 per person

Ratio1:6

Weekend Dates:-2012
27th-29th Jan
3th-5th Feb
10th 12th Feb
17th -19th Feb
24th-26 th Feb
2nd -4th March
9th-11th March
16th 18th March
Click here to download the itinerary and kit list.

Click here for how to book

Winter Skills 2 Day Non-Residential Course we also offer an option of a Non-Residential course . The price for this option includes the loan of ice axes, crampons and helmets.

Non-Residential Course Price: £120 per person

Ratio1:6

Weekend Dates:-2012
28th-29th Jan
4th-5th Feb
11th 12th Feb
18th -19th Feb
25th-26 th Feb
3rd -4th March
10th-11th March
17th 18th March

Please note: The Winter Skills - Non Residential course meets at the Ambleside Summitreks Store

Click here to download the itinerary and kit list.

Click here for how to book.

WINTER MOUNTAINEERING - 2 Days (Based at YHA Helvellyn nr Glenridding - Ullswater)

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 we teach you rope skills including how to move safely securing a team on steep ground using ropes and belaying techniques. We 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 full board accommodation at YHA Helvellyn and the loan of ice axes, crampons, helmets, harnesses and all technical gear.

Residential Price (with full board accommodation at YHA Helvellyn): £225.00 per person

Click here to download the itinerary and kit list.

Click here for how to book

Weekend Dates:-2012
27th-29th Jan
3th-5th Feb
10th 12th Feb
17th -19th Feb
24th-26 th Feb
2nd -4th March
9th-11th March
16th 18th March

Recommendations from previous course participants

Winter Skills Courses
Rob from Newcastle (2010)
"My girlfriend and I had a fantastic weekend, learnt how to use ice axes and crampons properly".

Malcolm from Morecambe (2010)
"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 (2010)
"I had the most amazing time and learnt alot, putting skills learnt into practice, we were certainly tested when there was a white out - Brilliant!".