CMD arete, Ben Nevis, March 2010

This comprehensive four day course covers all the skills in the two day course plus a full day on winter navigation and at least one full day on a mountain route, 'putting it all together'. We also have more time to concentrate on any course contenet in more depth.

The following are the key skills:

• Equipment choice
• Weather and planning a route
• Boot techniques
• Correct use of ice axe and crampons
• Ice axe arresting-stopping a slip
• Walking on steeper terrain
• Route choice
• Avalanche awareness and  assessment
• Full day of winter navigation
• Full mountain day
• Emergency procedures
• Snow shelters and snow holes

West Gully, Beinn a' Dothaidh, Feb 2010

Ascending steep ground. Good technique for getting up and down steeper terrain. We'll go through various techniques with the ice axe and crampons. Avalanche awareness/assessment and good route choice are all linked in with where is safe and where to avoid.

Winter navigation, Grey Corries, Jan 2010

Winter Navigation . We spend a whole day on navigation. The core techniques are basically the same as for summer navigation but with the added dimension of less features, varying snow conditions and in general the weather is more severe.  Good preparation is again a major part of this day.

Steep ground, Carn Beag Dearg. March 2010

Steep ground, route finding and avalanche avoidance/assessment were all linked together on this particular day in March

Snow shelters on Tarmachan. Jan 2008

Snow shelters and snow holing are essential skills to have for when 'it all goes wrong'. Either for when the weather turns bad and getting off the mountain isn't possible or if you are lost and time/energy is quickly disappearing. They are also great fun for just wanting to spend the night out on the mountains and watch the sunrise in the morning.

The Devils Ridge. Feb 2010

'Putting it all together' for a great day out on the hills. After 3 days of combining all the skills learnt you'll be armed full of confidence and be ready to tackle wonderful days out like here on The Devils Ridge in The Mamore's.

East ridge Carn Mor Dearg, Feb 2011

Nagotiating corniced ridges on a beautiful day in February. Excellent hard snow an wonderful views but a keen eye on footwork too!

At the cornice on No.4 Gully, Ben Nevis. Jan 2011

Cornices can be real problems. Through out the winter cornices in general get bigger. Avalanche assessment before setting off is a must. On this particular day we had wonderful snow conditions and a nice slot had been cut for us to get onto the plateau.

Stob Corrie an Lochain. Glencoe. Dec 2010

Fabulous conditions for ridge walking in Glencoe. Sparkling skies, no wind, perfect snow. This is what winter mountaineering is all about. WE all had big grins after this day, a perfect sunset and a pint in The Clachaig Pub. Perfect end to a great day.