Objectives of the Advanced Mountaineering Course

Aim:

Learn and practice the skills needed to be a competent member of a winter hillwalking party.

Develop self-reliance and confidence to go out in the winter hills.

Enjoy the course and being in the winter hills.

The ultimate aim is that you spend many safe and enjoyable days in the hills

Course Objectives:

At the end of the course you will have fulfilled many of these objectives but how many depends on a number of factors (weather, fitness, etc) that are beyond you and your leader’s control

One –Winter Route Planning

Understand the additional factors to take into account when planning awinter day in the mountains, including daylight hours, avalanche risk, wind and snow.

Appreciate the extra group equipment necessary for winter conditions.

Estimate the time taken for awalk and adapt it to your party’s capabilities.

Know sources of weather forecasts for mountaineers and how the forecast affects the day.

Two – Winter Navigation

Navigate to astandard equivalent to the summer ML.

Interpret the map accurately. Use 1:50,000, and contrast with 1:25,000 if possible.

Estimate the distance walked over short distances using pacing and timing.

Use acompass to: set the map, walk on abearing and use aspect of slope as an aid to location.

Use the techniques of attack points and aiming off.

Learn how to relocate when lost.

Develop an appreciation of how winter conditions affect navigation and develop techniques to navigate successfully in winter

Three – Winter Mountaineering

Learn to walk confidently in winter conditions.

Use an ice axe for athird point of contact, self arrest and step cutting.

Use crampons for walking on hard snow or ice on mountain terrain and be able to decide when they are required.

Fit crampons to boots and appreciate the use of different types of crampon and boot.

Four – Avalanche Awareness

Gain abasic understanding of how past and current weather affects avalanche danger.

Name three features of a“danger slope” (covering aspect, gradient and shape).

Know where to get useful information on avalanche conditions.

Be able to use the information available to plan a safe route in avalanche conditions.

Be able to identify a few important types of snow (windslab, neve, graupel).

Point out three examples of movement of snow while in the hills.

Be aware of the formation of cornices and the dangers they present when above and below them.

Five – Accident Procedures

Explain the symptoms of hypothermia and of frost bite and how to prevent them.

Discuss how you would cope with amisadventure in the hills in winter and what other procedures to follow to reduce the severity of the accident.

State the procedure to follow if somebody gets avalanched.

Make an emergency snow bivouac in winter conditions with just an ice axe.

Six – Rope Techniques

Discuss and understand the appropriate use of a rope as part of a mountain day.

Use aconfidence rope on somebody to give them added security up and down hill.

Use arope to protect someone on difficult ground, using only the rope to make abelay, and using awaist belay.

Know how to select and use avariety of natural belays.

Know how to use snow anchors including aburied axe and a snow anchor used in conjunction with abucket seat.

Neatly coil and uncoil amountaineering rope, show good rope management when belaying.

Seven – The Mountain Environment

Be aware of the pressures and some of the issues when being in the mountains and try to lessen them when ever possible. (e.g. litter, footpath erosion, noise, wildlife disturbance and sanitation).

Be aware of economic activities in the hills and how your actions might affect their livelihoods i.e. sheep farming, deer stalking and grouse shooting.

Be aware of the access rights and how they will change in the future.

Eight – Self-reliance and respect for others

Develop the ability to organise yourself.

Develop the skills to integrate into ateam.

Learn to live harmoniously with others in difficult situations.

Nine – River Crossing

Appreciate the dangers of river crossings and the considerations in deciding to cross.

Understand the strengths and limitations of different methods, including the use of arope.

Your Objectives

Having read through this list of course objectives, think about what you want to get out of the course. The more you engage and challenge your instructors the more you will get from the course.