Awarding Body

Mountain Training

Scheme

Mountain Skills (Ireland + NI)

Course

Mountain Skills 1

Type

Training

Award Description

This scheme is delivered on the island of Ireland ONLY. The Mountain Skills (MS) training course provides a general introduction to hillwalking in Ireland and the fundamentals of mountain navigation. Offering a solid foundation for gaining personal mountaineering proficiency, Mountain Skills training teaches the necessary skills in mountain safety, day and night navigation techniques, knowledge of hazards, and personal equipment, so that a person finishing the course may be in a position to safely, and competently, take to the hills. Mountain Skills training and assessment also provide foundation training for those who wish to progress to further leadership qualifications, such as the Mountain Leader (ML). Mountain Skills courses are available throughout Ireland. 

Welcome to Mountain Skills,

From my past experiences, Ireland is probably one of the best places in Europe or in the world where one can learn how to hike and navigate in a wild environment and especially off trails.

Ireland is a beautiful unspoiled country with very few hiking trails provided in lowland areas or in the mountains.

As an example, some of my customers have hiked all over the world included: Kilimanjaro, Patagonia, Chili, Peru, Himalaya or in the Alps but, mostly on trails. One customer from Germany wanted to join the course because he wanted to bring his daughter to Greenland Hiking for 3 weeks! One of my last Mountain Skills 1 participants flew from Italy the night before and rented a car to meet me the following morning.                                                                                                         

Mountain Skills is a great course in this regard as you will learn how to navigate on and off trails.

About Mountain Skills.

Mountain Skills 1 and 2 is a nationally accredited course by the Mountain Training Board of Ireland and is delivered in an upland environment.

The aim of this course is to help you learn the skills you need to get out hiking:

independently, safely, responsibly in the mountains of Ireland, the UK and beyond.

You will learn how to navigate with confidence using a map, a compass and proper hiking equipment in any weather conditions during day time, in poor visibility or at night (MS2).

At the end of this course, you will have taken a big step forward in developing your own self-confidence and enjoyment in hiking.

Note: Some hiking experience is essential before joining the scheme but, you don’t need to be an expert.

Registration with Mountaineering Ireland is essential in order to take part in the Mountain Skills scheme and the registration fee is € 28 mountaineering.ie/awardreg/?aid=32 which covers:

– Access to the full Mountain Skills Scheme (MS, MS2 and MS Assessment)

– A digital and/or paper Logbook setting out the scheme and allowing to track your progress

– A discounted Mountaineering Ireland membership fee of €35, if you wish to join at the time of registration.                                                                                                       

Any explanation and information will be given to you on training day.

ABOUT THE COURSES.

Mountain Skills 1. (2 days)

• Introduction and presentation of instructor and Mountaineering Ireland.
• Maps and Map’s scales
• Map reading, land and ground features
• Contours and contour lines
• Land features and ground features
• Navigation Legs
• Setting/orientating the map
• Simple navigation techniques
• Direction and Distance Estimation
• The 5 D’s
• Mountain Hazards: weather, human, topographic.
• Grid reference
• Timing and Pacing
• Introduction to compass
• Route planning
• Route card

Mountain Skills 2.  (2 days)

• Maps and map scales
• Contours and contour lines
• Timing and pacing
• Introduction to compass
• Compass bearing and magnetic variation
• Measuring a bearing from map by estimation
• Setting / orientating the map
• 3 methods for self-location
• Navigation Techniques
• Mountain Hypothermia
• Recognition and Treatment
• Emergency Procedures
• Treatment of casualty
• Late at night
• Safe movement skills
• Rivers and streams crossing

Each course is €120 / person and €100 for under 18/students for small groups from 4 up to 6 people which includes:

Full course notes, tea breaks provided, a free hiking day practice and some route cards for you to practice.

The indoor course location has a fully equipped kitchen, camping facilities and showers for an extra €10

About the course provider.

My name is Emmanuel Chappard. I was born outside Paris but, originally from the French and Swiss Alps on my dad’s side (which is incrusted in our DNA). We are from a small village near Chamonix called Nancy sur Cluse and I spent part of my childhood in Servoz a small village near Chamonix in the department of Haute-Savoie, France.

Hiking and rock climbing is nothing new to me as I have been hiking from the age of 9 in the Chamonix valley and learn how to ski at 5 years old so, pretty standard to any youngster living in the Alps.

During my youth, I spent most of my weekends in the Scouts and summer camps too all over the Alps and as a group leader too. In addition to this, I spent one year in the French army in Germany as it was a compulsory duty at the time.

I have been living in Ireland since 1994 and I have been working as a woodwork teacher for the past 25 years amongst other jobs.

I’m a fully qualified mountain leader and a course director for Mountaineering Ireland and the UK. I’m fully insured, Garda vetted and I hold a Rec 3 first aid certificate. I have been actively hiking in the Alps (France, Germany, Austria and Italy) the Pyrenees, Scandinavia, the Czech Republic, in Canada and the US.

In addition to this, I regularly organise hiking events: Women in Sports hike every month, Our Outdoors and other events organised by Mountaineering Ireland, Carlow Tourism, Carlow Sport Partnership and Visit Wicklow.

You can book a course at: www.mountainadventures74.com/events/

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me @: 00353 879691193

Email: aeaccom@gmail.com

Website: www.mountainadventures74.com

Kind regards,

Emmanuel Chappard

Start

13/09/2025 08:01

End

14/09/2025 16:05

Total Days

2

Maximum Bookings

6

Venue

Community Hall

Town

Ballinacor

County

Wicklow

Postcode

A67WY83

Country

Ireland

Latitude

52.94719

Longitude

-6.33313

Name

Emmanuel Chappard

Phone

0879691193

Website

Booking/Details

Email