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Gaining mountain climbing skills.

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  • 14-01-2009 1:28pm
    #1
    dakan
    Registered Users Posts: 226 ✭✭


    Hi Folks

    I’m planning on taking a holiday to Peru later this year. I will definitely be doing the Inca trail and Machu Pichu. I am also interested in attempting Huascaran in the Cordillera Blanca region. I am in a walking club in work and am very fit. However I am aware that Huascaran isn’t for Sunday afternoon walkers and requires a level of experience in certain skills like; high altitude, progression on snow and ice, crevasse rescue and glacier travel etc. My question is how would one go about getting experience in these skills. Does anybody know of any training courses in Ireland or the UK or even the continent?

    Any advice is appreciated.

    Thanks
    Dakan


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    #2
    SomeFool
    Registered Users Posts: 2,452 ✭✭✭SomeFool


    You can do winter skills courses in Scotland this time of year, or head for the alps/dolomites during the summer for similar courses. Lot's out there if you google them. If you have never climbed you could do worse than get some experience here with the harness and ropes etc by doing a climbing weekend course, it all helps.

    http://www.mountaintraining.ie/ is a good place to start. Enjoy it!!


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    #3
    dakan
    Registered Users Posts: 226 ✭✭dakan


    Thanks for the response SomeFool, I'll look into that.

    Dakan


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    #4
    BeardyGit
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,946 ✭✭✭BeardyGit


    I'd suggest that you contact the MCI's training officer, Tim Orr, to discuss training you could attend, and how to build experience.

    There are a great many training providers out there, not just Mountain Training. The MCI site has more information:

    www.mountaineering.ie


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    #5
    dakan
    Registered Users Posts: 226 ✭✭dakan


    Hi All

    thanks for the replies. I have pretty much decided on a Pat Falvey course on mountaineering that will be held in Norway this year.

    Dakan


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    #6
    Tells
    Registered Users Posts: 136 ✭✭Tells


    dakan wrote: »
    Hi All

    thanks for the replies. I have pretty much decided on a Pat Falvey course on mountaineering that will be held in Norway this year.

    Dakan

    Hi there,


    The MCI are running some great winter mountaineering courses in Scotland in early March.

    You should compare the prices between the Pat Falvey thingy and the MCI course!! Big difference imo..

    A friend of mine spent the Summer in the Cordillera Blanca region last Summer. PM me if you want to contact him with any questions.


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    #7
    Notogoldenpages
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8 ✭Notogoldenpages


    dakan wrote: »
    Hi All

    thanks for the replies. I have pretty much decided on a Pat Falvey course on mountaineering that will be held in Norway this year.

    Dakan


    pat falvey has made a name for himself in the outdoor world but if you ask any professional working in this field they won't have many good things to say about him.

    talk to the mountaineering council; www.mountaineering.ie first


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    #8
    BeardyGit
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,946 ✭✭✭BeardyGit


    Notogoldenpages wrote: »
    pat falvey has made a name for himself in the outdoor world but if you ask any professional working in this field they won't have many good things to say about him.

    Utter rubbish.


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    #9
    dakan
    Registered Users Posts: 226 ✭✭dakan


    Thanks for all the replies. I have booked this course; Summits and Skills 4000.

    I do have to say I was a little disappointed at some of the Irish companies not replying to my e-mails. Also the ones that did said their courses don't cover what I was looking for and I would have to book a specialist guide while there.

    When I do the course I will post a review for anyone who is interested.

    Thanks all
    Dakan


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    #10
    breadmonkey
    Registered Users Posts: 3,608 ✭✭✭breadmonkey


    That looks awesome. Must give it a go myself some time.


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    #11
    dakan
    Registered Users Posts: 226 ✭✭dakan


    Hi Folks

    I said in an earlier post that I would do up a review after the course so here it is.

    The course was great, very hard going but enjoyable.

    The course didn't match exactly the one advertised on the website. But we didn't miss out on anything. I think the main difference was the mountains we climbed. We climbed the Aig du Tour in France and Gran Paradiso in Italy. Also we did bouldering, rock climbing, ab-sailing, crevasse rescue and ice climbing. Covered a lot of rope work also i.e. roping up together to move on glaciers, prussiking and using the ice axe as an anchor for ropes etc.

    We stayed in different hotels and two huts. Can't fault the accommodation in any way. Also the food was basic but nice.

    ISM can provide you with the technical equipment i.e. axes, crampons, harness, ropes and rock shoes etc. Boots can be rented in Leysin, if you don't want to the cost of buying crampon compatible boots (B2 or B3).

    The instructors were great and everybody got on well in the group. There were 8 on the course and 2 instructors - Steven and Thomas.

    I would definitely recommend this course for anyone who like me only had experience in the Wicklow mountains and the lake district and who wants to progress on the better, harder and higher things.

    Let me know if anyone wants anymore detailed info.

    Thanks Dakan


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