First Steps in Winter
Our winter courses are aimed at hill walkers who have been active throughout the summer months and want to gain the basic skills to continue to enjoy the mountains in winter conditions. They are intended for hill walkers with no previous formal winter skills training and are not intended as "refreshers" or to teach intermediate / advanced skills. Spaces are limited and are all funded by charitable donations. For this reason we ask that you do not request a place on our courses if you have already benefited from formal winter training.
Our Northern Cairngorm based non-residential courses are offered over both 1-day and 2-days. Both courses require you to be fit enough to manage full days on the hill in winter conditions (which are usually more strenuous than summer) carrying a winter rucksack.
Our courses do not include the provision of ice axe and crampons. On the 2-day course it is usually convenient to hire these from retailers in Aviemore at the start of the course. On the 1-day course you must arrive for the course with both of these items along with suitable winter boots. Micro-spikes are not appropriate for winter mountain walking.
Our 2-day course will include:
Our 1-day course will focus primarily on the techniques of ice-axe and crampon usage. Also included will be hazard awareness and decision making. Start time is 8am and the course will be completed no later than 4.30pm.
The exact content of each course will be dependent upon the weather and snow / ice conditions that are encountered on the day.
Please note: spaces are limited and are all paid for by charitable donations. To ensure as many people as possible are able to benefit from our courses we will not accept multiple bookings from the same person. You may only book up to TWO DAYS training with us from across all our courses. eg a navigation day and 1-day winter skills, a navigation day and first aid day, a 1-day winter skills and first aid day, or a 2-day winter skills.
Our Northern Cairngorm based non-residential courses are offered over both 1-day and 2-days. Both courses require you to be fit enough to manage full days on the hill in winter conditions (which are usually more strenuous than summer) carrying a winter rucksack.
Our courses do not include the provision of ice axe and crampons. On the 2-day course it is usually convenient to hire these from retailers in Aviemore at the start of the course. On the 1-day course you must arrive for the course with both of these items along with suitable winter boots. Micro-spikes are not appropriate for winter mountain walking.
Our 2-day course will include:
- Clothing and equipment for winter walking
- Weather for winter walking
- Winter route planning and navigation
- Safe movement on steep ice and snow covered ground (no rope work)
- Use of an ice-axe
- Walking in crampons
- Basic hazard and avalanche awareness / decision making
Our 1-day course will focus primarily on the techniques of ice-axe and crampon usage. Also included will be hazard awareness and decision making. Start time is 8am and the course will be completed no later than 4.30pm.
The exact content of each course will be dependent upon the weather and snow / ice conditions that are encountered on the day.
Please note: spaces are limited and are all paid for by charitable donations. To ensure as many people as possible are able to benefit from our courses we will not accept multiple bookings from the same person. You may only book up to TWO DAYS training with us from across all our courses. eg a navigation day and 1-day winter skills, a navigation day and first aid day, a 1-day winter skills and first aid day, or a 2-day winter skills.
Need to Know
Courses are free to attend but we will require a refundable deposit. Your deposit will be returned to you within 5 days of you attending the course. The deposit amount is £30 for the 1-day course and £50 for the 2-day course.
In addition to your normal summer hill walking gear you will require appropriate winter boots, ice-axe, crampons and helmet. Helmets are available from our course provider but you need to supply your own ice-axe and crampons along with suitable winter boots. Items can be hired form many outdoor retailers and outdoor centres if you do not have your own. Our course provider will contact you directly with a full kit list prior to the course. In the meantime if you need guidance with winter kit we suggest having a look at Mountaineering Scotland's list.
You should have a minimum of one season's recent summer hill walking and / or scrambling in the high hills. Walking and participating in these courses requires participants to be capable of a minimum of 5 hours fairly constant walking on each day of the course. On our 1-day course you need to have had some previous exposure to winter hill walking.
All courses take place in the Northern Cairngorms / Aviemore area and are non-residential. We recommend that you book accommodation well in advance if required. You may find the Visit Cairngorms website helpful.
Our course provider is Andy Cloquet WMCI of Outdoor Adventure Scotland. Andy is fully qualified and insured to deliver these courses.
Maximum number of participants on each course is 6.
In addition to your normal summer hill walking gear you will require appropriate winter boots, ice-axe, crampons and helmet. Helmets are available from our course provider but you need to supply your own ice-axe and crampons along with suitable winter boots. Items can be hired form many outdoor retailers and outdoor centres if you do not have your own. Our course provider will contact you directly with a full kit list prior to the course. In the meantime if you need guidance with winter kit we suggest having a look at Mountaineering Scotland's list.
You should have a minimum of one season's recent summer hill walking and / or scrambling in the high hills. Walking and participating in these courses requires participants to be capable of a minimum of 5 hours fairly constant walking on each day of the course. On our 1-day course you need to have had some previous exposure to winter hill walking.
All courses take place in the Northern Cairngorms / Aviemore area and are non-residential. We recommend that you book accommodation well in advance if required. You may find the Visit Cairngorms website helpful.
Our course provider is Andy Cloquet WMCI of Outdoor Adventure Scotland. Andy is fully qualified and insured to deliver these courses.
Maximum number of participants on each course is 6.
2024 Dates
Please note that availability as shown here is not updated in real time and is just provided as an indication. Click through to Eventbrite via the Book Now button for up to date availability. If your chosen course is fully booked there is a wait list available. Click on Book Now to be taken to the wait list on Eventbrite. Late cancellations spaces are also advertised on our Facebook page.
First Steps in Winter (1-day)
Sunday 21st January Fully Booked
Saturday 24th February Limited availability
Sunday 25th February Fully Booked
Saturday 24th February Limited availability
Sunday 25th February Fully Booked
First Steps Plus in Winter (2-days)
Saturday/Sunday 3rd/4th February Fully booked
Saturday/Sunday 10th/11th February Fully booked
Saturday/Sunday 2nd/3rd March Fully Booked
Saturday/Sunday 10th/11th February Fully booked
Saturday/Sunday 2nd/3rd March Fully Booked
Please note:
- We can only offer a maximum of 2-days training (from across all our courses) for any one individual.
- Our winter courses are only available for individuals who have not undertaken any previous formal winter training.
Booking Conditions
Course places are only confirmed once your deposit has been received. Deposits will be refunded once the course has been completed. A non-refundable processing fee will be charged by Eventbrite in addition to your deposit amount. This is currently £2.93 (for a £30 deposit) and £4.49 (for a £50 deposit).
Cancellation:
Only one winter skills course per person. Individuals may book up to two days training with Mountain Aid (eg a 1-day navigation and a 1-day winter skills course).
The instructor reserves the right to decline to accept you on the course should you turn up inappropriately clothed or lacking essential equipment. If you arrive for the course under the influence of alcohol or drugs you will not be permitted to join the course. In these circumstances your deposit will not be refunded.
The instructor reserves the right to ask you to leave the course if you obviously do not have the required fitness or pre-requisite experience and this is affecting other participants' enjoyment of the course. Your deposit will not be refunded.
Mountain Aid and / or our suppliers reserve the right to amend the planned course should weather or environmental conditions dictate.
Mountain Aid and / or our suppliers reserve the right to use a different instructor from that advertised should circumstances dictate this. Instructors will always be appropriately qualified and insured for the activity.
Participants are reminded that hillwalking (especially in winter) is not without risk. By attending the course you accept these inherent risks.
Cancellation:
- Cancellations received 11 or more days prior to the course. Deposits will be refunded less a £10 admin fee only if we manage to refill your place. The Eventbrite processing fee is not refundable.
- Cancellations received 10 or less days prior to the course. Deposits are non refundable. The Eventbrite processing fee is not refundable.
- Requests to transfer between course dates will be treated as cancellations and re-bookings.
- In the event that Mountain Aid or our supplier has to cancel the course, we will offer you either a transfer to an alternative date or refund your deposit in full including processing fee.
Only one winter skills course per person. Individuals may book up to two days training with Mountain Aid (eg a 1-day navigation and a 1-day winter skills course).
The instructor reserves the right to decline to accept you on the course should you turn up inappropriately clothed or lacking essential equipment. If you arrive for the course under the influence of alcohol or drugs you will not be permitted to join the course. In these circumstances your deposit will not be refunded.
The instructor reserves the right to ask you to leave the course if you obviously do not have the required fitness or pre-requisite experience and this is affecting other participants' enjoyment of the course. Your deposit will not be refunded.
Mountain Aid and / or our suppliers reserve the right to amend the planned course should weather or environmental conditions dictate.
Mountain Aid and / or our suppliers reserve the right to use a different instructor from that advertised should circumstances dictate this. Instructors will always be appropriately qualified and insured for the activity.
Participants are reminded that hillwalking (especially in winter) is not without risk. By attending the course you accept these inherent risks.
