The course will introduce the fundamentals of backcountry touring, including equipment choice and use, fitting and managing skins, efficient uphill techniques, route planning, navigation, movement skills, and basic decision making in the winter environment. Participants will also develop their understanding of terrain, weather, snow conditions, and the factors that influence safe travel in the mountains.
The course will take place in appropriate winter terrain and will focus on building confidence, efficiency, and good habits for future backcountry touring adventures. It provides an ideal foundation for those looking to progress towards more challenging objectives.
Our most demanding courses. A very high level of fitness is required over many hours. Rough terrain and hostile weather conditions will be encountered. You will be required to carry safety specific equipment which will make your rucksack significantly heavier than it is for summer day hikes.
The two-day course will run on a maximum of 1:6 ratio and, weather and conditions permitting, will cover the following aspects of backcountry touring:
Equipment choice and use & fitting/managing skins
Efficient uphill techniques & movement skills
Navigation with both map/compass and GPS
Route planning/choice
Basic decision-making in winter environment
Weather forecast interpretation
Avalanche awareness
Emergency procedures
Please note: We cannot always guarantee sufficient snow to cover all aspects that we would like to, but we will offer relevant training and will aim to cover as much of the course outline as possible.
Participants aged 14-17 may be accepted on this course where it is considered appropriate for their prior experience, fitness and course aims. Please contact Mountaineering Scotland before booking so we can discuss suitability, previous experience and what the participant hopes to gain from the course. For courses where accommodation is included, participants aged 14-17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is also booked onto the course. If the course is suitable, we will provide instructions from completing the booking.
If you have any questions regarding the content of our courses, or you're not sure if it's right for you, please contact info@mountaineering.scot
Date & location:
Cost: £190 for Mountaineering Scotland members - includes 2 nights self catering accommodation at Mill Cottage national hut in Glen Feshie (Friday & Saturday nights)
Not a member? Join here or add membership to your basket when you book the course.
You'll need to bring your own kit and equipment appropriate for a ski tour in the Northern Cairngorms – there are some rental options listed below. The shops will also be able to give advice. The course is open to all off-piste modes of travel.
If you have your own kit - please initially email info@mountaineering.scot to discuss suitability of your equipment, especially if you would like to join the course and will not be using alpine touring kit.
If you don't have your own ski touring kit, ice axe or crampons, here are a few options for hiring them:
Tiso Aviemore Outdoor Experience, Aviemore PH22 1RH - email cs_aviemore_oe@tiso.co.uk
If you’re hiring ski mountaineering (ski touring) equipment from Tiso Aviemore, the current prices are:
Ski mountaineering package: This includes touring skis, climbing skins, touring boots. 1 day = £35, 2 days = £65
Avalanche Safety Equipment: These are hired separately:
Shovel £5 per day, Probe £5 per day, Transceiver £15 per day.
Phone the shop for up-to-date details – The shop usually allows you to collect the equipment after 5pm the evening before your hire and return it by 5pm on the final day of hire. Bring a photo I.D. and a credit card.
Cairngorm Mountain Supplies, Aviemore. Tel 01479 810903 / cairngorm@braemarmountainsports.com
The shop hires ski touring equipment, avalanche transceivers, shovels, probes, winter mountaineering boots, ice axes, crampons. Phone the shop for up-to-date details, including prices.
To book onto one of our mountain safety courses, you need to be a member of Mountaineering Scotland. Thanks to your membership, we can subsidise the costs of our courses and your membership supports all the work we do on your behalf.
Our cancellation policy:
By booking onto the course you are agreeing to our booking and cancellation conditions.
Course Delivery and Cancellation by Mountaineering Scotland
We endeavour to run all courses as planned. However, for operational reasons, we may from time to time need to amend or cancel a booking. Courses will proceed as scheduled unless an Amber or Red weather warning is in place for the meeting location. Where such a warning applies, the course may be cancelled, postponed or have its start time adjusted due to the increased risk associated with travel to and from the venue.
Winter courses are designed to run in a wide range of mountain conditions. Where snow cover, weather or ground conditions are less than ideal, we will adapt the teaching approach, location and activities to ensure the course remains safe, effective and focused on achieving the intended learning outcomes.
In the event of a cancellation by Mountaineering Scotland, participants will be offered either a full refund of the course fee or the option to transfer to another course of the same cost, subject to availability.
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ClimbScotland is a registered trademark of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland Limited
Mountaineering Scotland is a registered trademark of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland Limited
