This is a two-day winter CPD workshop aimed specifically at the scope of the International Mountain Leader award, both for aspirants and qualified members. During the two days, we will aim to cover a wide range of winter skills depending on the conditions available to us. It is intended that the workshop will be held in the Cairngorms National Park. The workshop will be practical in nature for both days. The precise start location and time will be decided when we know how the conditions look and who has signed up and their travel etc. We will start earlier on Sunday morning to allow people who need to travel to get away at a reasonable time in the afternoon. Handouts on several topics will be shared with attendees after the workshop.

Topics

- Refresher of ropework on rock, direct and indirect belays, securing a client up and down a rocky step.

- Appropriate winter terrain for the IML and route choice.

- Navigation.

- Comparison of the scope of the IML compared to the Winter ML in terms of equipment and terrain.

- The IML and crampons/spikies and suitable scenarios/terrain.

- Self-arrest as a leader skill and self-arrest on IML terrain for clients without an ice axe.

- Snow anchors including bollard, bucket-seat, buried axe, burried rucksack. Related ropework and belaying.

- Kicking and cutting steps.

- Avalanche transceivers, group-checks, searches and interference.

- The link between avalanche terrain, walking terrain and the scope of the IML - mapping the gradient and avalanche danger.

- Being Avalanche Aware, the avalanche forecast and key indicators on the hill.

- Snow pits and their limitations.

- Differences between continental, maritime and transitional snowpacks.

- Effecient excavation and managing avalanche scenarios/resources and companion rescue. 

- Movement on snowshoes and/or crampons/spikees where appropriate

- Discussion about snow shelters and their use.

- Discussions about the UIMLA standard and IML scope (winter terrain) and equipment.

- A chance to discuss specific topics raised by the attendees.

Equipment

We will pack for each day and go through what we need before departing, but be prepared for full days in the Scottish winter environment and bring with you on the weekend:

- Packed lunch, snacks and hot and cold drinks

- Suitable winter clothing and footwear

- Snowshoes

- Crampons (optional)

- Transceiver with a fresh battery (available to borrow, let us know)

- Shovel

- Probe

- Walkers axe

- Trekking poles

- Trekking rope 20-30m, sling and karabiner (we will share ropes in the group, so not everyone needs to carry one)

- Helmet

- map and compass, optional GPS (1:50k map excerpts available)

- Personal first aid kit and emergency shelter/bag (again, we can share emergency kit)

- Sunglasses, sun-cream(!) and ski goggles

Provider info

The workshop will be led by Gavin Kellet and Peter Chapman.

Gavin lives in Selkirk in the Scottish Borders and is an International Mountain Leader, Winter ML and RCI with experience from countries including Russia, Alaska, Norway and also the European Alps. He has been a member of the Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue team for 27 years were he has held leading team roles. On a day to day basis, Gavin is a Health, Safety and Training manager for EcoSafety. He is also a freelance leader and instructor and delivers and assesses Bronze, Silver and Gold DofE awards.

Peter is an International Mountain Leader, Winter ML, RCI and Norwegian Glacier Guide with 25 years of winter mountaineering and leading experience under his belt. Peter lives in Denmark and he does the majority of his outdoor work in Scandinavia, but also in Scotland, Greenland and Iceland. Peter is the Technical Director for BAIML and a member of the UIMLA Technical Committee. Winter is his favourite season and he has taught winter skills to many private groups but also in many professional development workshops for several organisations.

Booking

It is possible to book one or both days and the workshop is open to non BAIML members. Priority will be given to those wanting to book both days and to BAIML members. For those attending a single day, 1 CPD point will be allocated. The workshop is not subsidised, but the providers are offering a lower price for BAIML members.

If you would like further information about this workshop or to book, contact Peter directly on guide@mountain-environment.com. Please include your MT number and where you will travel from. This will allow us to look at possibilities for car sharing and we will see if people can share accommodation.

Following the workshop, please allow up to two weeks for the CPD to be automatically added to your record. You do not need to add it manually.

Start

06/01/2024 09:00

End

07/01/2024 16:00

Total Days

2

Maximum Bookings

12

Bookings

11

Venue

Coire na Ciste car park

Town

Aviemore

County

Highland Council

Postcode

PH22 1RB

Country

United Kingdom

Latitude

57.14678

Longitude

-3.65784

Name

BAIML

Phone

+45 20612924

Email