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The Scottish Highlands in winter can be wild and intimidating, but they can also be awe-inspiring and beautiful. With the right skills and knowledge, you can make these mountains your playground throughout the winter months. We are teaming up with Girls on Hills to bring you a weekend of new experiences, new skills and a chance to push yourself physically or mentally, in a safe and supportive environment. Whether you are new to snowy mountains or are an experienced winter climber looking to perfect your technique, the Women’s Winter Festival has something for you. Join us for a weekend of building confidence and having fun in a unique celebration of the great outdoors! See below for details on all courses and workshops taking place as part of the Women's Winter Festival on 10th to 12th March 2023. Not sure it’s for you? – just drop us an email and find out. For the Winter Skills and Winter Mountaineering courses you will need winter boots, crampons and a single mountaineering ice axe. For the Winter Climbing course you will need winter boots, crampons and two climbing axes. This can all be hired from Scottish Mountain Hire in Fort William, or if you have any questions about your own kit or advice on buying kit just get in touch. |
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2 Day Winter Hill Walking Skills
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Learn the basic skills required to start exploring the mountains in winter so your adventures don't stop when the snow starts falling.
course information
On this two day Winter Hill Walking Skills course we will cover all core skills such as what to wear and how to wear it, how to use your winter boots and ice axe to aid walking, crampon use, self-arresting a slip with your ice axe, avalanche awareness, navigation and emergency response. Day two will be more of a journey, hopefully taking in a summit, and it will give you the opportunity to put all your new skills into practice. This course is aimed at people who have experience of summer hill walking experience and are either brand new to winter or feel a little rusty and would like to refresh their skills. You should expect to be out in the mountains for two full days, potentially in poor weather, so a good level of fitness is required. Included in the price is guiding and instruction, and the use of a helmet if you don't have your own. Winter boots, crampons and ice axes can be hired from Scottish Mountain Hire in Fort William if you don't have your own. You will also need to provide your own accommodation, food and insurance. dates & prices
Sat 9th - Sun 10th March 2024 8am to 5pm £200 per person Maximum ratio of 1:6 Depending on what kit you need to hire there may be an additional cost of up to £68 for this. Please contact Scottish Mountain Hire directly and in plenty of time to book your kit. kit list
The weather in the Scottish mountains can change in a matter of minutes. Snow is likely and it can regularly feel as cold as -20 degrees Celsius on the summits. Make sure you are ready for your day by packing the items on the list below.
If you need winter equipment Scottish Mountain Hire in Fort William hire out winter boots, crampons and ice axes. Please contact them directly to book. |
2 Day Intro to Winter Climbing
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Get to grips with basic rope work and other essential skills to take your winter outings onto grade I and II ridges and gullies.
course information
An Intro to Winter Climbing course will give you all the skills needed to tackle grade I and II winter routes including basic rope work, avalanche awareness, navigation, route choice and emergency response. Over the course of the two days we will aim to cover the skills required for both ridge and gully routes but it will depend on the snow and weather conditions at the time. Each day will begin with a chat about the weather and avalanche forecasts, and the reasons for going for the chosen route. This course is aimed at people who have experience of winter hill walking and are looking to get on slightly more technical terrain so you will need to be comfortable using a single ice axe and moving around in crampons. You should expect to be out in the mountains for two full days, potentially in poor weather, so a good level of fitness is required. Included in the price is guiding and instruction, and the use of helmets and harnesses if you don't have these. Your guide will provide all ropes and technical equipment so you just need to bring your own personal climbing kit. Winter boots, crampons and ice axes can be hired from Scottish Mountain Hire in Fort William if you don't have your own. You will also need to provide your own accommodation, food, uplift (if going to Aonach Mor) and insurance. dates & prices
Sat 9th - Sun 10th March 2024 8am to 5pm £260 per person Maximum ratio of 1:3 Depending on what kit you need to hire there may be an additional cost of up to £68 for this. Please contact Scottish Mountain Hire directly and in plenty of time to book your kit. If weather conditions allow we may choose to use the gondola at Nevis Range on one of the days which is £23.50 per person. kit list
The weather in the Scottish mountains can change in a matter of minutes. Snow is likely and it can regularly feel as cold as -20 degrees Celsius on the summits. Make sure you are ready for your day by packing the items on the list below.
If you need winter equipment Scottish Mountain Hire in Fort William hire out winter boots, crampons and ice axes. Please contact them directly to book. |
2 Day Winter Climbing Progression
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Make the move onto steeper terrain and learn the skills to start tackling grade II and III winter routes.
course information
Have you already done some grade I or II mountaineering style routes with some basic rope work? Or do you tend to second routes but would like to learn the skills to start leading? Perhaps you're a rock climber and would now like to 'winterise' your skills? A Winter Climbing Progression course will get you on routes requiring two ice axes at grade II and above and give you the skills to start tackling these routes on your own. We will look at route choice, rope work, avalanche awareness, climbing technique and if possible, how to retreat from a climb. This course is aimed at people who have rock climbing experience and/or experience on grade I/II winter routes. You need to be comfortable using crampons and an ice axe, and have some knowledge of basic rope work. Experience of climbing with two axes is not required. You should expect to be out in the mountains for two full days, potentially in poor weather, so a good level of fitness is required. Included in the price is guiding and instruction, and the use of helmets and harnesses if you don't have these. Your guide will provide all ropes and technical equipment so you just need to bring your own personal climbing kit. Winter boots, crampons and ice axes can be hired from Scottish Mountain Hire in Fort William if you don't have your own. You will also need to provide your own accommodation, food, uplift (if going to Aonach Mor) and insurance. dates & prices
Sat 9th - Sun 10th March 2024 8am to 5pm £380 per person Maximum ratio of 1:2 Depending on what kit you need to hire there may be an additional cost of up to £92 for this. Please contact Scottish Mountain Hire directly and in plenty of time to book your kit. If weather conditions allow we may choose to use the gondola at Nevis Range on the one of the days which is £23.50 per person. kit list
The weather in the Scottish mountains can change in a matter of minutes. Snow is likely and it can regularly feel as cold as -20 degrees Celsius on the summits. Make sure you are ready for your day by packing the items on the list below.
If you need winter equipment Scottish Mountain Hire in Fort William hire out winter boots, crampons and ice axes. Please contact them directly to book. |
Discover Winter
Guided Trail Running Adventure
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Discover the raw beauty of the Scottish Highlands in winter - an adventure through darkness, snow and ice with the right kit for the journey.
Course information
This Girls on Hills event is a leap of faith and an adventure like no other! Join us in the darkness of Scottish Winter where we will begin our run by torchlight, heading out on remote trails to discover the raw beauty of the Highlands in winter. We can't tell you what the weather will be but we can tell you it won't be warm - we may face snow, rain, hail or ice but we will be prepared! Sponsored by Petzl, Dexshell and Mountain King poles, we're going to take you on a winter journey where the right clothing and equipment will transform your experience of winter running. We will discuss the importance of daylength, weather, experience and informed decision-making in the winter mountain environment. *Please note this is not a high-level mountain running course and axe/crampon skills are not required*. Headtorch, poles and microspikes will be provided (demo kit on loan) and an in-depth kit-list with recommendations will be emailed in advance. Dates & prices
Sat 11th March 2023 7.30am to 3pm, meeting at Ellis Brigham in Fort William £85 per person Maximum ratio of 1:6 |
SILVA Navigation Refresher - Be Winter Ready!
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A single-day navigation skills workshop refreshing the basic techniques and strategies necessary for navigating in the winter environment
course information
A one-day navigation course for women, refreshing the essential techniques and strategies necessary for navigating in the mountain environment - including in poor visibility and winter conditions*. Skills covered include map-reading, contour interpretation, taking and walking on a compass bearing, plus route-planning and micro-navigational strategies for poor visibility. Through an indoor theory session, we will also cover skills unique to the winter environment, to support safe travel in snow/white-out conditions. Intermediate to advanced level (i.e. some experience of self-navigation in summer required). The course is based around the Cow Hill area of Fort William and does not involve going into the high mountains/above the snowline. Instead we will focus on putting navigation theory into practice on accessible yet complex ground. This avoids the need for winter skills and equipment on the day, and maximises session content and outcomes in a more conducive learning environment. The course is delivered by local and experienced Girls on Hills guides who hold the Winter Mountain Leader qualification. *This navigation course does not cover assessment of avalanche risk. To add these skills to your winter tool-kit, sign-up for our Be Avalanche Aware course the following day (Sunday 12th March), which inlcudes a gondola ticket and takes place above the snowline. dates & Prices
Sun 12th March 2023 9am to 4pm, meeting at Ellis Brigham in Fort William £60 per person |
Be Avalanche Aware
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A single-day course developing an understanding of avalanche reports and forecasts, as well as assessing the risk of hazards on the hill.
course information
Avalanches in Scotland are more common than you might think! Most are triggered by people being in the wrong place in the wrong conditions. Safe travel in the winter mountain environment is about so much more than just having the right equipment with you. It takes time to build up the experience and skill neccessary to make sound jundgements - but it all starts here, with some basic avalanche avoidance principles. Join our Be Avalanche Aware course to find out out how to understand avalanche forecasts and reports, as well as combine a knowledge of conditions on the mountain with observations on the hill. Use your winter mountaineering equipment and a range of techniques to interpret the stability of the snow around you.
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED Note this is NOT a Winter Skills course. Participants must already have winter hillwalking experience or have been on a winter skills course with Girls on Hills or another provider. See details of equipment required below. dates & Prices
Sun 12th March 2023 8.30am to 4pm £85 per person |
