Mountaineering Skills

02/12/2024

These pictures show a glimpse into the increasing challenges of scenarios candidates faced during the 16 hour course I delivered this weekend.

Well done to all for getting stuck in, and for remembering head torches for day 2!

My courses completely avoid PowerPoint presentations and are highly practical, focusing on recognition and appropriate action.

I don't use make-up or fake wounds but use the time to cover more scenarios and allow candidates to improve their skills through repetition and individual feedback. When faced with an emergency, your cognitive load is already high, by 'drilling' first aid skills to become automatic you free up more bandwidth to make better decisions leading to a better outcome for yourself, your team, and the casualty.

Winter is the best time or year to renew your first aid certificate as it gives you the most challenging environment to practice in.

19/08/2024

Fantastic day yesterday with colleagues from at Creag na h-Eighe.

31/07/2024

Amazing sunset and light up on Meall nan Tarmachan last night!

27/06/2024

https://www.waymarkadventures.scot/post/when-does-trying-to-help-women-not-help-women?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2wqhi_v_5ojtNWu5d7cEBpHO_d3I_EwpJNhiB_fPiFdwmIjZ0kZEq7td4_aem_AABUGKTn3cdloKHLxyFRsw

Over the past week, social media has been the platform for a number of very heated debates about the safety of women in the hills. The trigger? An article that intends to act as a guide for how men should treat women in the hills. Whilst I am sure the intent behind this article is good, it made me w...

12/05/2024

Fantastic second day of - as experienced indoor lead climbers the climbers quickly got the hang of threading the lower-offs and abseiling at Bennybeg last week.

Today, at Kirriemuir we consolidated the skills from day one, and had a play with .climbing clip stick which they also got the hang of super quick. We also looked at how to problem solve and how to avoid problems in the first place!

Search 'mountain training rock skills learn to lead' for a full syllabus of what was covered on the course.

Bravo to the climbers, excelling in every aspect, look forward to seeing you both out as independent climbers at the crags soon.

05/05/2024

29/04/2024

Great conditions for our learn to lead trad climbing course last weekend. We almost had both Rosyth and Kips crags to ourselves, surprising with the sunny conditions.

All three climbers made great progress and are now tasked with getting out climbing more to consolidate what they've learned and avoid the dreaded skill fade.

Get in touch if you'd like to learn to lead trad or sport climbing in sunny Scotland!

09/02/2024

NEW IN-RESORT TOURING ROUTES

Working with Snowsport Scotland, Club , STAG (Scottish Touring Access Group), The Association of Scottish Ski Areas, @ and FATMAP , Ski Centre have identified two routes through the ski centre to help walkers, ski-tourers & splitboarders find their way safely through the ski-area.

The routes are designed for both the novice and expert alike, and offer an efficient journey toward the most popular surrounding backcountry areas, whilst avoiding traffic conflicts with downhill skiers and resort operations. One particular issue for ski centres, are winter walkers accessing the mountains via the ski-lift tow tracks, the resultant “postholing” can cause irreparable damage to the tracks and the impacting the lifts ability to run.

To help avoid this and similar issues, and with input of the other partners involved, the ski-area have been able to identify two routes for tourers and walkers who wish to transit through the ski centre. These routes will hopefully allow those unfamiliar with the area to move safely through it, and both come with the support of Ski-Patrol, should you need assistance.

The advice is also located in the Mountaineering Scotland snowsports touring code for walkers and tourers - https://www.mountaineering.scot/activities/snowsports-touring/code

The two routes are linked below, but before you click these links, please see the bottom of this post for our FREE FATMAP subscription offer for registered Snowsport Scotland coaches, leaders and instructors.

Cairnwell Route - https://fatmap.com/routeid/3615986/glenshee-cairnwell-touring-route?fmid=cp

Glas Maol route - https://fatmap.com/routeid/3615965/glenshee-glas-maol-route?fmid=cp

For backcountry commencing their activity at the ski-centres please be considerate when taking advantage of facilities. Glenshee have put together a superb page of information highlighting what’s on offer at Glenshee and their steps to accommodate backcountry skier and snowboarders - https://www.ski-glenshee.co.uk/Ski-Touring

As part of Snowsport Scotland’s collaboration with Fatmap, we have secured an offer whereby our professional workforce of coaches leaders and instructors can gain free use of the FATMAP App. To take advantage of this offer, simply head to FATMAP Pro-Access and complete the form detailing your qualification held with Snowsport Scotland.

For info on how to get started with Fatmap check out their guide here -https://about.fatmap.com/journal-digest/the-complete-guide-to-getting-started-with-fatmap

04/02/2024

This weekend I was working for in the - day 1 was personal movement skills on steep ground and snow anchors, day 2 brought those skills into a context with a long stretcher lower requiring multiple belay with linked anchors.

Bravo to the team members who took part despite the challenging conditions 👏👍👍💯

09/12/2023

November was all about ... Lots of days out helping people to not get lost!

Nice to have some days where the visibility was poor enough to put the skills to the test.

Association of Mountaineering Instructors
Mountain Training Association