Winter Mountaineering Skills

As part of my February winter extravaganza, I attended 5 days of winter skills refresher courses targeted at people looking to do Winter ML or MIC assessments, run by Phil Dowthwaite, an IFMGA Guide.  The week was based in Fort William using venues on Aanoch Mor and Glencoe.

The week broke down into 3 elements. These could all be attended independently, but I went for all 3 and got myself a discount :-)


Teaching Winter Skills:

A two-day workshop.  Day one was spent looking at the delivery of winter skills with critique from peers, opportunities to promote current best practice and receive feedback, all aimed at the winter ML syllabus.

Day two was a winter journey encompassing graded ground in ascent and descent, avalanche awareness and all that it entails.

Me about to do a classic abseil over a cornice off
a snow bollard

Avalanche Awareness:

A one day workshop with Lectures in Fort William and practical exercises in The Glencoe White Corries Ski Area and avalanche rescue park. Details of snow analysis, avalanche avoidance and rescue techniques using transceivers and probes were all covered during the day.

Winter Mountaineering and short roping skills:

A two day workshop suitable for Winter ML trainees/award holders and MIC trainees, looking at the skills used in short roping and confidence roping in winter, approaching the base of climbs, steep steps and the  rope skills  used when ascending and descending ridges in winter.  Venues visited were  the Zig-Zags in Glencoe and  the upper section of Golden Oldie on the West Face of Aanoch Mor.  Some of this was arguably out of WML remit, and one of the guys on this module was a trainee MIC, but as Phil said it is a grey area and it was interesting to contrast the different techniques at the disposal of the MIC and WML holder.

Overall this was a thoroughly worthwhile and enjoyable course delivered in a relaxed, friendly but very knowledgeable way by Phil.  I certainly learnt a lot and it made me feel much more confident about my impending Winter ML assessment.  I think Phil has just taken these over this year form Tim Blakemore and hopefully he will run them again next year -I'd certainly recommend them for anyone working towards WML.  As an added bonus, these days all come with CPD (Continuing Professional Development) points so that's me sorted for a while :-)