Mountain Skills Course

Event Description

The Mountain Skills course is for those with a good level experience walking in the mountains and want to learn more advanced skills. After completing this two-day course, you will be able to tackle mountain walks over all types of terrain, know how to manage risks and hazards, navigate like an expert, plan routes, and know what to consider before going out in the mountains on bigger and tougher routes.

Course overview

This two-day mountain skills course will equip participants with the skills and confidence required to get started walking in more mountainous terrain. You will spend two-days in the mountains learning about navigation, route planning, managing risks and the weather before moving on to steeper, rockier terrain away from trails.

Dates for 2019

• Thursday 11th – Friday 12th April
• Saturday 18th – Sunday 19th May
• Thursday 13th – Friday 14th June
• Saturday 20th – Sunday 21st July
• Thursday 1st – Friday 2nd August
• Saturday 14th – Sunday 15th September

Course content

On day one you will meet your group and instructor for a short navigational theory lesson before heading outside into the mountains to learn the practical elements of mountain navigation and route planning.

The navigation section starts with the basics and gradually introduce new techniques as the course progresses. You begin navigating on marked paths and mastering the fundamentals and when your confidence grows you will head to more baron and featureless ground and learn some advanced techniques, such as keeping track of your progress, relocation, and dealing with navigational errors.

During the day you will learn about the weather, managing risk, the environment, clothing and equipment, walking skills, and emergency procedures. The day finishes with a planning session where you will plan a mountain journey with your group ready for the next day.

Day two will involve completing a long mountain journey, which you will have planned within your group the previous day. You will further build on navigational skills as you navigate legs of the route across more difficult terrain. The route will involve steep terrain and you will learn to tackle easier scrambling routes safely and competently. Your instructor will be giving even more information on various walking and navigational skills as you complete the route.

Key concepts you will learn on the mountain skills course:

• Choosing a route: how to plan a walk in the mountains
• Navigation skills: map reading, using a compass and what to do when things go wrong
• Basic scrambling:  an introduction to scrambling and gain confidence on steep ground
• Working in a team: responding to hazards, what to do in an emergency and team welfare
• Walking skills: pace, movement in the mountains and clothing/equipment
• Weather: understanding the weather and how it can influence your day

Where does it start?

The Mountain Skills course starts in Capel Curig, Snowdonia. Capel Curig is a short drive away from Betws-y-Coed.

Is this for me?

Some recent hillwalking experience is required and you are expected to have a good level of fitness and be able to walk over rough terrain. We expect each participant to have completed a minimum of 5 mountain days involving 6+ hours of strenuous mountain walking. There will be some steeper scrambling sections with some exposure. You will need to wear and bring appropriate hillwalking clothing; this will be outlined in the course information email, which will be emailed to you after you have booked. Compass and maps will be provided.

How to book your course

You can book your course anytime through the website.

1.  Decide which date you would like to attend
2.  Use the booking calendar above to select your date and click ‘book now’
3.  You pay a 35% deposit to book your place
4.  We email you with all the walk information including kit lists, timings, parking and location