Guided Hillwalking and Mountain Skills Courses
with TARMACHAN MOUNTAINEERING

We offer a choice of three courses for those who have some summer hillwalking experience but want to venture into the wonderful winter season. For some people winter hillwalking in Scotland is the highlight of the year. Crisp snow, blue skies and a winter wonderland. Of course there are days of cloud, wind and difficult navigation to nagotiate!

On these courses you will learn how to cope with all the contrast of conditions a winter's day can give.

The courses are all based on the mountains around Killin and Loch Tay area. Only a short drive from the Central Belt the courses prove popular for easy access to get the best of the snow conditions. There are two high roads in the area that reach over 500 metres so we can be into the snow quickly, therefore spending more time during the courses in the white stuff.

ONE DAY INTRO COURSE

This is a 'taster' to walking safely in the mountains under winter conditions and should be regarded as the absolute minimum for gaining the skills and experience of winter hillwalking.

• WALKING ON SNOW & ICE USEING BOOT TECHNIQUES

• CORRECT USE OF ICE AXE & CRAMPONS

• SELF ARRESSTING TECHNIQUES- STOPPING SAFELY FROM A SLIP

TWO DAY WINTER SKILLS

Our most popular course. Over the two days you will have masterded the following:

• WALKING ON SNOW & ICE USEING BOOT TECHNIQUES

• CORRECT USE OF ICE AXE & CRAMPONS

• SELF ARREST TECHNIQUES

• AVALANCHE AWARENESS, AVOIDANCE AND WEATHER INTERPRETATION

• MOVEMENT ON STEEP GROUND AND ROUTE PLANNING

FOUR DAY COMPLETE WINTER WALKER

This is a much longer course, giving you more time to build on the skills as we progress through the week. At the end of the four days you will have the necessary skills to confidently venture into the winter environment.

• WALKING SAFELY ON SNOW & ICE WITH BOOT TECHNIQUES

• CORRECT USE OF ICE AXE & CRAMPONS

• SELF ARRESTING TECHNIQUES

• AVALANCHE AWARENESS, AVOIDANCE, ASSESSMENT AND WEATHER INTERPRETATION

• MOVEMENT ON STEEP GROUND AND ROUTE CHOICE

• FULL DAY ON WINTER NAVIGATION, INCLUDING RELOCATION TECHNIQUES

• SNOW SHELTERS AND SURVIVAL SKILLS

• FULL DAY ON A MOUNTAIN ROUTE

WINTER WALKING DAYS

In the unlikely event of insufficent snow we provide guided walking with as much 'on route' winter skills as possible.

We will try to cover as many of the above skills as possible. In 2007/8 all courses had sufficent snow and ice for complete course content.

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PRICES

•  1 -2 PEOPLE £110

• 3 - 4 PEOPLE £160

 PRICES INCLUDE HIRE OF ICE AXE, CRAMPONS AND SAFETY HELMET