Our Scottish Snow and Ice Climbing Course is aimed at those who already have basic winter mountaineering skills and want to climb snow and ice grades I-III. For the introductory snow and ice climbing course you need good basic winter skills and the ability to use crampons and ice axe safely and effectively. Some previous rock or indoor climbing experience is also advised.
This Snow and Ice Climbing Course will cover:
- Snow belays, rock and ice anchors
- Multi-pitch climbing to Grade III
- Route choice and avalanche avoidance
- Movement and technique
- Throughout the course we will aim to ascend some of Scotland’s classic routes graded I-III
Courses run from Friday evening to Monday afternoon (around 4:30pm), giving you three quality mountain days. Alternatively, from Friday evening to Wednesday afternoon (around 4:30pm) giving you five mountain days.
This course is Level 2 of our three main winter skills courses. Our Winter Mountaineering (Level 1) course provides an introduction to the skills and the Improvers Snow and Ice Climbing Course (Level 3) progresses onto steeper, more technical terrain and requires previous winter climbing experience.
- Level 1 – Winter Mountaineering
- Level 2 – Introduction to Snow and Ice Climbing (this course)
- Level 3 – Improvers Snow and Ice Climbing
Anonymous –
Great course with Tom who was an excellent instructor. He made a bad weekend of whether really good with plenty of practical experience. The route choices were great considering whether and food in a hotel good especially the evening meal.
Austin –
The instructor was a top bloke and the small group worked well and the instructors choice of where to go to considering the weather conditions. Also I liked the lecture on avalanche risk assessment.
Ken –
My guide was very experienced, quickly understood my abilities and expectations. Flexibility to do what i wanted to do and change with the weather.
Andrew –
The guide to client ratio was perfect! (one to one). Everything could be tailored to get the most from the two days. Level of difficulty was perfect, gentle-ish intro on day 1 and then more challenging on day 2.
Scott Pilling –
Last year I went on a Scottish Winter Mountaineering course (which is advised first before this course) and really enjoyed it .
This course that was taken by Clive Hebblethwaite who was excellent and I learned so much more than I knew previously. If I could put it into context I’d say 10 X more.
He tailors your course to suit your skill or knowledge and allowed me to learn from beginner rope work as I had no experience to indoor lead climbing, use of all slings and belaying other climbers on a grade 3 climb. I also learned a packet of information on the snow and how to look for anchor points.
We went up the Dorsal Arete (grade 2-3) which blew me away a little as in the first day was way more than I expected but it helped me learn faster.
I was with another nice guy called Pete who guides and teaches people rock climbing but had no previous alpine/ winter mountaineering experience. I on the other hand had no rope or steep route experience or rope work.
As you can imagine my learning curve was very steep!
I took it all in thanks to Clive’s excellent teaching and to give you a few examples of the routes… we did North Butress grade 3-4 on Stob Dearg (Etive Mor) A bit of Curved Ridge grade 2-3 and Sron Na Lairig North East ridge 1-2 grade.
I personally think he’s the best guide i’ve ever had.
Lastly thanks for a excellent course and this is really the one if you’re like me and wish to do harder steeper mountains in the future.
Pete –
Excellent instructor (Clive Hebblethwaite), good transport, small group size, good accommodation. Clive was knowledgeable, extremely competent, friendly, safe, fun, tailored the course to suit the clients well. Five varied days covering all aspects of winter climbing in Scottish weather!
Anon –
I thought we were looked after very well, both instructors were patient and professional in dealing with the challenge of meeting the different requirements of both people on the course…both the instructors were great, helpful, positive and good company throughout the course and I was extremely grateful for the knowledge of Everest that I was able to gain from talking to Rob. I really enjoyed the whole course, the slides and the avalanche talk in the evening made everything seem more real and I think inspired other members of the group and then the ongoing discussion of the options and then the explanation behind the decisions that planned each day, coupled with the challenge that each day and the respective route presented.
JJ –
Learned more in three days than seven years in the Alps
John –
Thank you for a great course. The instruction was second to none and both Matt and I took plenty away from it. Please pass on our thanks to Neil and Brian, who worked tirelessly to ensure that everything we did was pitched at the right level. I will be more than happy to recommend AP.
Ken –
Very satisfied with the instructor
Hella –
Good fun and value for money…excellent professional guide, I felt 1000% safe under his instructions, learned tons of techniques and tricks from him, he had enormous patience and brought a lot of motivation and people skills…Despite the bad weather conditions on most of the days both instructors Rob and Phil were amazing in improvising, getting us out but being safe at the same time. The course covered an enormous range of techniques from avalanche assessment, dry tooling, ice climbing at a wall and outside – not only how to get up a ridge but also how to downclimb safely, rope work/techniques, climbing efficiency, gear tips and how to keep comfy in the hardest conditions. Tons of respect for the (high profile) guides! Absolutely worth it when you want to learn – and with those guides you learn from the best.
Alain –
Well organised. Good professional guides. Friendly and welcoming atmosphere. The instructor was knowledgeable and a good teacher, friendly and patient…good variation of terrain, teaching, exercise and technical learning. Overall a great experience.
Philip –
Dave was very patient and flexible in where we went and was able to structure the course to help me achieve my expectations.