Summer Mountain Leader Training

These courses are run by 'Scotch on the Rocks Guiding - Bill Strachan (MIC)' and I work on and direct courses for him.

The Summer Mountain Leader Award is the bench mark qualification for people wishing to lead others in the Mountains of the UK.

Dates:

28th April to 3rd May 2014 - Glen Coe

28th September to 3rd October 2014 - Glen Coe 

Location: Glen Coe
Price: £300 per person
Ratio: 1:6
Previous experience: To be eligible for a place on the course you must have registered on the Mountain Leader Scheme, click here for registration and have been issued a log book.
Length: 6 day

Who is the course suitable for?
The mountains of the UK are remote, technical and exposed to harsh and unpredictable weather. This makes them a hazardous place for novice walkers and the ML is designed to help responsible leaders who wish to operate in mountainous terrain in summer conditions. ML courses develop your group management skills, the ability to navigate in all conditions, the ability to deal with mountain hazards (including steep ground) and increase your awareness of environmental issues. There is an expedition element to the scheme. The Mountain Leader scheme is overseen by Mountain Training UK (MT).

What does the course cover?
The course follows the MT syllabus and comprises full practical days out in the mountains and evening lectures.

Sample Programme

Day 1. Introduction to the week and what is expected of a Mountain Leader and an introduction to navigation techniques. We will be out and about on a local hill and in the evening there will be a ropework session.

Day 2. A steep ground day, concentrating on skills that are required to safely use a rope in unplanned situations. In the evening there will be a presentation on mountain weather and our understanding of what we need know about it as an ML.

Day 3. Our journey and leadership day. Today we will be looking at route choice and group management in various types of terrain. In the evening there will be an opportunity to ask plenty of questions during our "What Comes Next" session, and how best to prepare for assessment.

Day 4. In the morning we'll cover Emergency Procedures, Mountain Rescue and Medical Emergencies followed by a wet session in the afternoon with a River Crossing workshop. There will be a discussion on The Outdoor Access Code and what it means to us before having the rest of the evening off to pack for our expedition.

Day 5 & 6. An overnight camping expedition with a focus on environmental input and navigation. There will usually be a night navigation exercise. Course will finish by around 5pm.

Where is the course held?
Courses are based out of Fort William or Glen Coe dependant on dates. Please see top of page for dates and location.

Accommodation
The course cost does not include accommodation, however there are plenty of options in the area for all budgets. Please let us know if you would like some ideas for accommodation duration the course.

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