Winter Skills Course review

just back from glenmore lodge and a great newbie winter skills course - heres the review

http://selfpowered.blogspot.com/2011/01/cairngorms-winter-skills-course-review.html

Interesting write-up. Its hard to visualise how hard climbing in the snow and ice can be, until you've tried it.

When I did my first winter climb, I was a little apprehensive doing my very first ice axe arrest. After all, we're not in the habit of sending ourselves down a mountain side in that sort of manner, voluntarily.

But once I had successfully completed that first one, the rest, learning how to arrest in different positions, head first as well as feet first, was better than toboggening.

Good on you, you'll enjoy getting out and about all year round. I do.

I was just curious. As a part time Scouter, and also through work, we I do quite a few risk assessments.

As for my winter skills, I've always wanted to have a go, but having a very basic understanding of whats involved, steered clear until such a time someone was able to teach me properly.  I had that opportunity a couple of years ago, and boy, that was not only the hardest climb I've ever done, but the best.

As for ML training, the leisure business is a fast growing one, especially where the more adventurous activites are concerned. Even more so with the modern blame and claim culture we have today.

i think the Bear Grylls post is another one, isnt it

Its very interesting the concept of 'risk'.  These guys (maybe you too) are experts, but its just what you are used to....far more people killed by smoking, cars and booze, which they'll pretty much let anyone do!  And all outdoors stuff is more dangerous than sitting at home waiting to keel over....or is it?!  I imagine scouting is quite different to when I was chucking myself about in the woods 2 decades ago, but I'm sure kids still manage to have some fun - they're good like that.

Anyway, this is v. good course to get yourself tooled up, my view is the skills are worth a hundred fancy new bits of kit (tho i'm quite partial to that too, tbh)

 all the best

I did a two day session mid December self sponsored as I was wanting to be an all year walker as oppose to a three seasons one. It was not a cheap at all but in my opinion it was money well spent as you can't really put a price on safety.

The best thing about it was it was 1:1 so there was no embarrassment asking silly questions or such as like.

I had previously studied techniques on the Internet and from books, so it was a great opportunity to under pin all the knowledge I had gained before visiting Glenmore lodge. I was good to also be surrounded by so many people with such a vast amount hill skills & just being able to chat to anyone about anything, everyone is so helpful and always go out of their way to assist you.

The days we went out there was a lot of fresh powder sone a rather deep in places, we only did about 6km and may be 650m height gain but it felt like 20 km and 1200m height gain, it was with out doubt serious hard work.

The most important thing I got out of it apart from the safety skills, was that your navagation has to absoultley spot on, there is no margin for error.

I would have waited and taken OM winter skills training if I was free for the dates, but I'm out of the counry at the time.

No beer out here to toast anyone with but I shall make up for that on the flight home on Thursday