UKC

Hello.

Can anyone recommend any winter skills courses? Plan is to attend one this winter, probs in Scotland. First time winter climbing so entry level is good I reckon.

How much did they cost too? Did they require booking ages in advance, ie, this time of year?

Fantastic.

Z.

In reply to zebedoo:

Try this Zeb

http://www.expeditionguide.com/winterskills.htm

He's a great guy to spend time in the hills with, very safe & knows his stuff too

Bill

In reply to zebedoo:

Nick Carter will see you good: http://www.alphamountaineering.co.uk/index.html

As will Mike Pescod: http://www.abacusmountaineering.com/

In reply to zebedoo:

go with one of the plas Y brenin courses.

http://www.pyb.co.uk/

top notch from my experience and excellent accomidation and mountains of food thrown in, all meals provided, includign large packed lunches and cream cakes and teas when you return from the hills.

expect to put on a bit over the week even with all the mountaineering exertion

In reply to zebedoo:

I did the Jagged globe winter course about 7 years ago. Back then it cost about 550 pounds for the 5 day course including accom and food. Tight arses wouldn't throw beer in for free!!!

Definitely recommend their course.

In reply to zebedoo:

I'd can recommend Alan Kimber

http://www.westcoast-mountainguides.co.uk/courses.htm

He's a nice guy and keen to teach, his prices are reasonable and he has a well equipped bunkhouse you can stay at.

Jason

In reply to Dave Murphy: PyB undoubtably have top notch instructors but I would go with smaller local providers.

In reply to zebedoo: Glenmore Lodge were excellent a few years ago when I went (2003) - picking the best time in Scotland can be the biggest issue as in lean conditions you may get less out of the course. We did the basic climbing rather than winter skills course so were in the corries every day and did not do alot of plodding around.

As with any course you will get most if you go with a like-minded friend of similar fitness and experience. Although having nearly always done just that we have nearly always met others on courses who we have continued to climb with afterwards!

In reply to SouthernSteve: To be honest if you booked a course for mid fenuary to Mid march there is almost always winter conditions to be found, and the organisers would know where those conditions will be.

In reply to IainRUK:

there probably just as competent and i see the value locality but will they do the cream teas???

In reply to Dave Murphy: 10 years ago PyB was undoubtably the dogs, but since then I've heard an increasing number of people complain about the place. I tried to book a course and then speak to an instructor and couldn't get past the receptionist so gave up and went else where.

In reply to IainRUK:

yup, i found that i couldnt talk direct to instructors (there contracted at the time i think) but receptionists were helpfull and tyake them on faith as they do deliver

In reply to Dave Murphy: But they weren't. They couldn't answer my questions, they wouldn't be flexible in payment methods (my fees were being paid by a bursary), and so I was basically told to go elsewhere, which I was very glad I did as I had an excellent few courses for my ML training and assessment.

In reply to IainRUK:

The courses seem to be run for much longer periods from some providers, often from just after Christmas to the end of March - so definitely a point to watch. Do you think there is a difference for your ideal dates between the west coast and the Cairngorms?

In reply to SouthernSteve: I think the snow patches in the Northern Corries tends to be more reliable. I've never known it without snow in the feb/March period.

I wouldn't book a winter skills course in december/january as conditions are very fickle. This year there was almost no snow at NY's as we drove through Lochaber. We were out at Ardnamurchan so didn't get up high.

In reply to IainRUK:

Slightly hijacking the thread; Looking at the list of current staff it seems fairly different again to that of a couple of years ago and perhaps things have changed again. It would be interesting to hear from recently PYB'ed people to know of their experiences.

In reply to SouthernSteve: I was speaking to a woman only recently who did a nav course there, she found the time with instructors to be insufficient, with too many people on the course.

In reply to zebedoo: Definately recommend Rob Johnson who owns/runs www.expeditionguide.com. Excellant mountaineer, climber and a fine bloke to boot! Check out his website...

In reply to zebedoo:
Glenmore Lodge run courses at various levels. I was up there in February this year and had a great time, the whole setup is good. Can't comment on any other courses but I do agree with the suggestion to go in Feb/March, January wouldn't have been ideal due to lack of sufficient snow. Have a look around before committing, I don't think you'll need to book this far in advance.

In reply to zebedoo:

Cheers for all the help folks. Will fire off a few emails and see what's on offer out there...

Z.

In reply to zebedoo:

Have you considered having a bit more one on one than say with more organised places such as PYB, Glenmore Lodge etc?

Means you get more time learning, and your money would go towards learning about what you want to learn about, not want other people on the course want to? or cream cakes?

For such a set up, names have been mentioned above, but I would also recomend: http:www.jamesthacker.com

In reply to zebedoo:
Sorry, try http://www.jamesthacker.co.uk/
(he's not quite global yet.....)