Learn To Lead Winter Climb 5 day Course

Here’s a sample itinerary for a 5-day learn to lead winter climbing course in Scotland:

Day 1: Meet at Aviemore at Tiso at 8:30 AM for gear check and introduction. Head to Cairngorm for an introduction to winter lead climbing techniques on an easy route around grade I, including belaying, rope work, and ice axe/crampon skills.

Day 2: Head to the Cairngorms for an ascent of a grade I-II gully or ridge, focusing on movement skills and route finding. Learn how to assess snow and ice conditions and make informed decisions about route choice.

Day 3: Move onto harder routes up to grade II-III, where you’ll practice gear placement and leading techniques. Continue your development with regards to ropework, gear placement and belaying.

Day 4: Focus on leading and practicing more technical climbing skills on grade II-III routes. Continue to refine technique and decision-making in a more challenging environment.

Day 5: Put your skills to the test on a final climb perhaps opting for a longer route on Ben Nevis to complete the week. Finish the day with a debrief and celebration of your achievements.

Throughout the course, your guide will provide personalized instruction and feedback to help you progress as a winter climber.

We pride ourselves on providing as much kit as possible for you.  However, the list below is what we recommend you should bring to your guided Winter Climbing Course:

• Travel insurance. (We are insured for all our trips, but we recommend everyone has their own travel insurance as well.)
• Transportation to the venue. (We may be able to help with this though – if you need transportation please drop us an enquiry and we can see what we can do to help.)
• Lunch, water.
• Personal medication
• Sun cream, sunglasses
• Clear goggles – we may be able to provide if required please contact us.
• Waterproofs 
• Warm layers
• Thick gloves and a hat/buff
• B2 boots (we may be able to arrange hire of these if needed; please contact us if this is the case. But people normally prefer to use their own)
• Rucksack 30 litres or so will suffice
• Own personal kit IF YOU WISH TO Harness, helmet, Crampons, Axes etc (we do supply these but sometimes people prefer to use their own)

Here at Highland Outdoor Adventures, we pride ourselves on providing as much as we can but you are welcome to bring your own equipment if you do prefer. The list below is what we provide you with on the guided winter climbing course.

• All instruction.
• Crampons
• Ice Axes
• Leashes
• Ropes
• Helmets
• All Technical Climbing Gear
• All first aid and safety equipment.
• Photographs of the day provided for you at no extra cost! If the weather is good we will have a DSLR professional camera and maybe even a drone, so we can take photos and videos of your adventure and you can look back at the day for years to come. If the weather is less favourable we will bring a GoPro (as it is waterproof) so we will still be able to take photos for you.