Scottish winter climbing course

Halloween Jack

Howdy, just back from Ben Nevis, where we had perfect conditions over the weekend. We went up the tourist route but the sight of climbers coming up the various gullies at the summit made me burn with envy;)

With that in mind I'm considering a climbing course next year, has anybody done one and can anybody recommend one from experience?

denis b

Halloween Jack wrote: »

With that in mind I'm considering a climbing course next year, has anybody done one and can anybody recommend one from experience?

Mountaineering Ireland run a winter meet each February in Scotland (usually between the Ben and Glencoe). It would be a pretty good way to gain experience taking an odd course day and mixing it up with some personal experience with other attendees.

Halloween Jack

denis b wrote: »

Mountaineering Ireland run a winter meet each February in Scotland (usually between the Ben and Glencoe). It would be a pretty good way to gain experience taking an odd course day and mixing it up with some personal experience with other attendees.

Cheers, is that the Irish mountaineering club or actually mountaineering Ireland? Badly want to join the imc, but have exams in April and then again in may, which is when they run the new members program

denis b

Halloween Jack wrote: »

Cheers, is that the Irish mountaineering club or actually mountaineering Ireland? Badly want to join the imc, but have exams in April and then again in may, which is when they run the new members program

That would be Mountaineering Ireland, the representative organisation. Might still be worth your while joining the IMC as there are numerous trips during the year and once you are a member of the IMC then you are automatically a member of Mountaineering Ireland, as a club member.

Munurty

I've done two winter courses in Scotland with two different companies.

I would highly recommend Glenmore lodge. They have a great centre in the Cairngorms. There's lectures every night too so its quite a full on week. Nearly all the gear is provided which really cuts down on the cost.

http://www.glenmorelodge.org.uk/

Jagged globe is more expensive but the course fitted our needs better. We went over this year and there wasn't much snow. With two students per guide they were able to tailor the instruction exactly to our requests so even though the conditions didn't play ball we learned loads about leading and placing gear.

http://www.jagged-globe.co.uk/climb/course/scottish.html

Halloween Jack

Munurty wrote: »

I've done two winter courses in Scotland with two different companies.

I would highly recommend Glenmore lodge. They have a great centre in the Cairngorms. There's lectures every night too so its quite a full on week. Nearly all the gear is provided which really cuts down on the cost.

http://www.glenmorelodge.org.uk/

Jagged globe is more expensive but the course fitted our needs better. We went over this year and there wasn't much snow. With two students per guide they were able to tailor the instruction exactly to our requests so even though the conditions didn't play ball we learned loads about leading and placing gear.

http://www.jagged-globe.co.uk/climb/course/scottish.html

Thanks for the info, had seen both those operators online, may have to try glenmore, it's certainly not a cheap holiday so lower costs would be nice. Would also be good to avoid buying so
Much gear before I know if I'll even take to it;)

SomeFool

Halloween Jack wrote: »

Thanks for the info, had seen both those operators online, may have to try glenmore, it's certainly not a cheap holiday so lower costs would be nice. Would also be good to avoid buying so
Much gear before I know if I'll even take to it;)

Possibly worth considering a course in the Europe, have done trips to the Sierra Nevada in Spain and the Julian Alps in Slovenia in the last 2 winters rather than going back to Scotland. Euro zone, cheap flights, cheap accomodation and I'm sure guiding/courses would work out quite reasonable. Slovakia or Poland beckons next winter!

Halloween Jack

SomeFool wrote: »

Possibly worth considering a course in the Europe, have done trips to the Sierra Nevada in Spain and the Julian Alps in Slovenia in the last 2 winters rather than going back to Scotland. Euro zone, cheap flights, cheap accomodation and I'm sure guiding/courses would work out quite reasonable. Slovakia or Poland beckons next winter!

Hadn't considered those options, must check them out, much obliged;)

SomeFool

Had an excellent week with these fellas two years ago in Spain, ice climbing, sport climbing, a bolted mulit pitch via ferrata, some winter mountaineering. A memorable morning spent ice climbing, the evening spend down on the sunny coast having a couple of beers - highly recommend them!
http://www.spanishhighs.co.uk/

Didn't need a guide in Slovenia as my regular climbing partner made the trip too but pulled much of our planning from
http://www.cesen.com/agk/en/?content=home

This gives an idea of what is offer in the High Tatra, hopefully my next winter destination
https://climbbigmountains.com/trips/alpine-climbing/high-tatras-winter-climbing

Of course there is always France/Italy/Switzerland but it's far more expensive in ski season than in Summer, the avalanche risk is far greater, and of course it's got glaciers to negotiate!

dropping_bombs

SomeFool wrote: »

This gives an idea of what is offer in the High Tatra, hopefully my next winter destination
https://climbbigmountains.com/trips/alpine-climbing/high-tatras-winter-climbing

Have you come across any reviews of ClimbBigMountains? That high Tatras course looks very good, but I have little experience on snow/ice so I'd love to know if they can teach as well as guide!

SomeFool

I have no personal experience of them but I'm sure they'll answer any questions you have. I have always learned something when climbing with a guide though, don't be afraid to ask questions if you climb with one. They have a wealth of knowledge and are usually happy to share it!