A one-day introduction for those wishing to extend their walking into the winter season in North Wales, the Lakes, or Scotland. Primarily it is about learning to use an axe and crampons. Starting with making sound judgements about route choice and terrain, movement skills and effective boot placement before moving onto using the axe to aid safe travel, crampon techniques on steeper ground, and finally using the axe for self-arrest should the rest of those skills fail.

The programme is fairly flexible taking into account individual needs and aims, weather/snow conditions, etc. The main topics to be covered are:

The selection and organisation of personal kit appropriate to winter hill walking

Personal movement skills on snow, including kicking steps and using the ice axe for walking, self-belay, cutting steps, and self-arrest

Use of crampons in ascent/descent

Emergency procedures

Avalanche awareness and safe route choice

Core techniques of winter navigation