Winter Mountain Skills Course
Sierra Nevada Guides
run a series of winter skills events in Spain’s Sierra Nevada mountains each
winter. The aim is to give mountain walkers the breath of skills and experience
necessary to tackle “non technical” mountains. i.e. mountains that can be ascended
without the need for ropes and climbing ability.
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| Winter Skills, Learning the Ropes! |
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| Winter Skills, Building Snow Shelters |
These courses cover
the following topics:
Walking with crampons;
Walking with
snowshoes;
How to use an ice axe
to cut steps and to arrest you if you fall down a slope;
Navigation and route
planning;
Building emergency
shelters and snowholes;
The use of a rope in
emergency situations;
The use of avalanche
tranceivers;
Mountain weather;
and
Snowpack analysis.
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| Winter Skills, Ice Axe Arrest |
Because for most
people, the course is a holiday we consider it important to make it fun and to
have some mountain objectives. For the week long course we aim to ascend
mainland Spain’s highest mountain, Mulhacen 3482m from the Refugio Poqueira.
The week long course spends 3 nights in a hotel and 4 nights at the Refugio.
The course is headed
by Andy Say (IML and MIC) the Chief Officer of Mountain Training England and
staffed and supported by IML’s from Sierra Nevada Guides.
For 2015 we are
running from 31st January to 7th February. Cost £825, this includes airport pick
ups from Malaga Airport, a week of full board accommodation and tuition. All
you need to provide are your flights, personal equipment and beer money!
Sierra Nevada Guides
will provide any ropes, snowshoes, helmets, tranceivers and snow shovels,
though you are welcome to provide your own.
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| Winter Skills - Relaxation!! |
You can read more about walking in the Sierra Nevada mountains in our article winter on UK Hill Walking.