MOUNTAINS/ADVENTURE/TOGETHER SCOTLAND INTRO TO WINTER SKILLS We provide high quality teaching and training on winter skills in the Cairngorm area of the Scottish Highlands. A wild and beautiful place, famous for whiteouts and high winds! skills This trip is for beginners or those with little or no experience in winter walking conditions. BEGINNER Putting on crampons in the Cairngorms Read inside for more information SCOTLAND INTRO TO WINTER SKILLS THE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE www.the-mountain-people.com For this trip, please contact: info@the-mountain-people.com K
CONTENTS Introduction 3 Quick look 3 What it s all about 4 By the end of the course... 5 Instructor Bios 5 Details 6 Dates Price Accommodation Transport Daily programme Kit List 7 Medical & fitness 8 Conditions 8 Safety 8 Booking 9 Posing for a picture page 2
INTRODUCTION Welcome to the 2013 Scotland Winter Skills Course! This is one of our core events, providing adventurous experiences in wild and beautiful places in a context of community. At the heart of all our events is the desire to foster good relationships, live sustainably and enjoy the fullness of life. We have previously run the trip under the Red Rock Lifestyle brand, but have now set up a sister company, offering teaching and instruction in adventurous locations in the UK and abroad. We have a friendly group of regular, annual participants on this trip, so if you have been before, book on to catch up with friends and prepare for new adventures, and if you have never before experienced Scotland in full winter conditions, come along for a taste of the truly wild side of outdoors in the UK! This trip is suitable for those who are new to winter mountaineering, incorporating a significant amount of guiding and coaching, and will build competence for using an ice axe and crampons as well as develop avalanche awareness. Remember, there are only a limited number of places on this trip, so make sure you book early to avoid disappointment. QUICK LOOK Dates Sunday 10 to Saturday 16 February 2013 Price 495.00 (including all food, accommodation, instruction and local transport) Venue Cairngorm National Park, or West Highlands, depending on prevailing conditions Accommodation Comfortable and modern catered lodge within the Cairngorm National Park Transport Local travel from Aviemore to accommodation nearby Food All meals are included during the course Equipment Ice axe, crampons and boots can be hired at a local shop on day one. No other specialist equipment is required. See page 7 for full kit list. page 3
WHAT IT S ALL ABOUT The Scottish Highlands contain the UK s only Arctic habitat the Cairngorm plateau. At an average altitude of over 4000 feet, it is an incredibly harsh environment, and yet very fragile. Its altitude and easterly location mean that it attracts the harshest winter conditions. This is one reason why we choose to venture here. Compared with increasingly regulated work environments and pastimes, the Scottish Highlands provide a refreshing amount of freedom and, of course, are stunningly beautiful in good conditions. In bad weather, the power of the elements is equally breath-taking. However, adventures are best shared, which is another key reason for our trip. By journeying through amazing scenery and facing challenges together, we go deeper in our friendships. We have also chosen our accommodation and the week s itinerary carefully so that there are opportunities to relax together with fellow participants. Eating together and talking over the day s adventures in a comfortable and relaxing place adds to the unique fellowship that we share on this course. Cloud inversion on Gael Charn page 4
AFTER THIS TRIP YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO... Winter Skills learning outcomes: Use an ice axe and crampons: ice axe arrest, cutting steps, movement skills - how to utilise your crampons effectively Go out safely in the hills: taking precautions against avalanche (using avalanche reports, digging hasty pit) Be proficient with personal administration in winter: keeping warm, avoiding wet and cold hands Work towards independence: gaining navigation skills for winter conditions INSTRUCTOR BIOS Des has worked for over 20 years in Scotland, the Alps, South America and the Moroccan High Atlas. He is from Ireland and particularly enjoys a Guinness after an adventurous walk, snowshoeing or winter mountaineering trip! Des is the author of Mountaineering in the Moroccan High Atlas, published by Cicerone. He is an IML (International Mountain Leader), and dreams of one day owning an eagle. Simon was briefly in the army, but decided to leave and pursue his dream of being a mountaineer. He loves the outdoors and exploring wild places, a desire which was fostered during his childhood in Malaysia. Simon holds a Mountain Leader (ML) award and is working towards other awards. For most of January he will be camping out on the hillside of Scotland, so unless wild dogs eat him, he should hold his Winter Mountain Leader (WML) award too. Fresh snow on???????? Looking into Coire Ardair, Creag Meagaidh page 5
DETAILS Dates Sunday 10 to Saturday 16 February 2013. Sunday and Saturday will be travel days, leaving five days (Monday to Friday) for the mountains. Price The cost is 495.00 per person, which includes everything (food, accommodation, transport, etc.) except ice axe and crampon hire, which you can personally hire prior to the commencement of the course. Whilst lunch is provided on the course, you might like to bring your own personal snacks and drinks for the mountains. A deposit of 100.00 can be paid to reserve your place on the trip, with the balance paid in full six weeks prior to the commencement of the course (by 30 December 2012). Accommodation We privately lease local lodges or houses near to Newtonmore from which we run our courses. Accommodation is well equipped and linen and towels are provided. As with last year we will have a resident cook and housekeeper, so all you ll need to do is pitch in with the washing up! Transport You will need to get yourself to Aviemore train station by 5:00pm on Sunday 10 February to take you to the accommodation. Alternatively, you can arrange your own transport directly, in which case, please let us know your arrangements. We will drop you off in Aviemore on Saturday 16 February to make your way home. Transportation is provided throughout the course to and from walking locations. Daily programme 07h00 Breakfast and make lunch 08h00 Briefing on day s activities & objectives 08h30 Depart for activities 16h00 Return 16h30 Tea & cakes and review 18h00 Evening meal 20h00 Optional evening lecturette or activity Please note: this is a rough timetable and conditions will dictate how closely it is Fresh observed snow on???????? page 6
KIT LIST ESSENTIAL Thermal underwear Two warm fleeces Warm trousers Waterproof trousers and jacket Warm hat or balaclava Two pairs of gloves Rucksack (40-60 litres) Mountaineering boots Ice axe and crampons Ski goggles Water bottle Mountaineering/ski socks Helmet and head torch Small first aid kit for personal use NOTES One to wear, one spare to carry in rucksack Technical hillwalking trousers best, no jeans Try to avoid ski jacket, if possible Gloves get wet quickly, so a spare will keep fingers warm. One pair must be waterproof B1 or above, compatible with crampons - can be hired Can be hired Avoid Camelbak or Platypus as they tend to freeze up With spare batteries Including any personal medication OPTIONAL Thermos flask, walking poles, sun cream, sunglasses, gaiters, map, map case, compass, wristwatch altimeter Last years line up page 7
MEDICAL & FITNESS Winter mountaineering is very physically demanding, therefore a good level of fitness is required. We would stress that this is an active holiday: five days of consolidated walking and teaching from 8 am to 4 pm daily. We recommend you allocate a day extra after the course to ease back into work. If you are concerned about your fitness, we suggest that you consider going swimming, jogging or cycling a few times a week. If time and space are an issue, you could try the excellent 5BX program: http://gregsadetsky.com/_files/5bx-plan.pdf Please make any medical conditions or dietary needs known in the registration forms. In order to get the most from the course you should have some summer hillwalking experience in the UK. CONDITIONS The Cairngorm area is a high plateau far away from the prevailing Atlantic westerlies. Consequently the Cairngorm area provides relatively reliable winter conditions. Be prepared though for very high winds and consequently very cold conditions. It is not uncommon for people to have to crawl on the plateau because the wind is so strong. You may also expect to walk in cloud which is cold and damp, with low visability. SAFETY The safety of participants is of paramount concern to The Mountain People staff. Inevitably, there is some risk inherent in this course. This risk is minimised by the staff s knowledge, experience and training and the participants co-operation in maintaining all safety standards and procedures. First aid provision by qualified staff is available throughout the course. The Mountain People reserves the right to take individuals off the course if they consider it necessary. All our instructors have years of combined experience in Scottish winters. Rising mist and fresh snow page 8
BOOKING 'To book your place on this course, please fill out the following online registration: http://themountainpeople.wufoo.com/forms/scotland-winter-skills-course-2013/ You may be contacted regarding medical/health/prior experience related concerns. Booking Conditions For more information about our booking conditions, please see: http://the-mountain-people.com/booking-conditions Payment You will need to pay a deposit of 100.00, which is due when you fill in the online registration. The remainder should be paid by 30 December 2012, six weeks before the start of the course. You can pay online via PayPal or bank transfer. To ensure we know what your payment is for, please insert the reference: [INSERT YOUR SURNAME] SWSk13, e.g. SMITH SWSk13 PayPal: Please send your payment via PayPal to: bookings@the-mountain-people.com Online Bank Transfer: Please e-mail for this information: bookings@the-mountain-people.com Walking in the Cairngorms page 9
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