An ice climber on a winter ice climbing course in Scotland.

Guided Winter Ice Climbing

We run both 2 and 5 day Guided Winter Ice climbing courses.

Scroll down for the 5 day course

The 2 day Guided Winter Ice climbing course (Beginner or Intermediate)
Beginner: This is an excellent introduction to winter snow and ice climbing for those who have never winter climbed before. Winter climbing involves using 2 ice axes and crampons to climb snow-ice and rocky buttresses with the protection of a rope. The routes are climbed in a series of pitches and average 120m in length. There is a great diversity in the style of winter climbing available from snow & ice gully climbs, waterfall ice climbing to "mixed" snow and rock buttress climbing.

Intermediate: The course can also be run at a higher Intermediate level for those who have some experience of winter snow and ice climbing and would like to push their grade harder.
Our Instructors have a wide knowledge of routes and venues to suit your ability.
The type and grade of winter climb would be tailored to the experience of those on the course.

No previous winter experience is needed for our winter snow and ice climbing course, however knowledge of indoor or outdoor summer climbing is an advantage.
Winter climbing is a strenuous activity and winter snow and ice climbing participants should be hill fit and willing to carry a winter sack into the climbing area.

The 5 day Guided Winter Ice climbing course.
This course is designed to take you from beginner to Intermediate over the course of 5 days.
The 5 day Guided Winter Ice Climbing course has the advantage that there is more time to improve and consolidate climbing techniques and to have a go at different styles of route.
By the end of the course we hope that you might have the confidence to choose and buy your own gear and to take the next step and learn to lead Ice climbs if that is what you want.

Videos

 

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Guided winter ice climbing

Course programme

scroll down for 5 day course

2 day Course programme (Beginner and Intermediate)

The night before: We'll meet up with all the other Guided Winter Ice Climbing course participants and run through the kit that you have, issue hired kit and discuss what you need to carry for each day.
Winter Ice climbing day 1: We will guide you up winter "mixed" rock and snow / gully routes including an introduction to using ice axes and crampons, how to belay, climbing calls and removing protection.
Winter Ice climbing day 2: Guided winter waterfall ice climbing including techniques for climbing ice and removing ice screws.

5 day Course programme

Days 1and 2 as above.
Winter Ice climbing day 3: Re-visit winter mixed climbing looking at techniques like torquing and hooking with axes and using crampons on rock.
Winter Ice climbing day 4: We aim to progress onto harder and more technical mixed climbs if this is suitable including looking at belay stance and rope management in more detail.
Winter Ice climbing day 5: Re-visit winter Ice climbing trying steeper Ice climbing routes. The option to try mono point ice climbing crampons and more technical ice axes and including looking at building ice screw belays.

All our ice climbing courses are run from Aviemore.
Possible ice climbing venues include Coire an t Sneachda and Coire an Lochain in the Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Aonach Mor and Ben Nevis. All venues are weather dependant.

The winter ice climbing course is run on a maximum 1 instructor to 2 clients ratio.

Kit list:
Kit: Climb365 provides helmets, harnesses and ropes. We hire walking axes, ice climbing axes, boots and crampons. Please see dates and prices section.

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Winter ice climbing course

Course dates & prices 2012

We offer 2 day ice climbing courses

& 5 day ice climbing courses (please scroll down)

Guided winter ice climbing course 2012
Course duration: 2 days
Course Ratio:1:2
Non residential course cost: £280
Total 4 star residential course cost:
Mon & Tues courses are £364
Sat & Sun course are £388

All courses are guaranteed to run as soon as 1 person is booked. We do not exceed the ratio laid out above in order to keep the instructor to client ratio at the optimum.

If you like the look of the course and want to have 1:1 course delivery with flexibility to maximize your potential then please contact us to arrange private guiding. You can see more info on this link.

 

5 day Course 2012

Guided winter ice climbing course 2012
Course duration: 5 days
Course Ratio:1:2
Non residential course cost: £700
Total 4 star residential course cost: £910

  • Monday to Friday on the following dates:
  • 2nd to 6th Jan
  • 9th to 13th Jan
  • 16th to 20th Jan
  • 23rd to 27th Jan
  • 30th Jan to 3rd Feb
  • 6th to 10th Feb
  • 13th to 17th Feb
  • 27th Feb to 2nd March
  • 5th to 9th March
  • 12th to 16th March
  • 19th to 23rd March
  • All courses are guaranteed to run as soon as 1 person is booked on. We do not exceed the ratio laid out above in order to keep the instructor to client ratio at the optimium.

    If you like the look of the course and want to have 1:1 course delivery with flexabilty to maximise your potential then please contatct us to arrange private guiding. You can see more info on this link.


    To read more about our accommodation and how to get to Aviemore click
    Winter accommodation

    Winter kit hire
    prices per day
    Boots £10
    Crampons £6
    Walking Axe £5
    Climbing axe & hammer £12 a pair
    Helmets and harnesses are supplied free of charge.

    Booking Form

    winter climbing reports

    suggested accommodation

    Photos

    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Anna guiding on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A photo of winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

    A winter ice climber on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses.
    A winter ice climber on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses. (Central route II)

    A winter ice climber on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses.
    A winter ice climber on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses. (Hidden Chimney II/III)

    A group of winter ice climbers on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses.
    A group of winter ice climbers on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses. (Anoach Mor)

    A winter ice climber on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses.
    A winter ice climber on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses. (Tunnel Vision III)

    A winter ice climber on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses.
    A winter ice climber on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses. "Jacobs edge II"

    A winter ice climber on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses.
    A winter ice climber on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses. "The Message" IV6

    Two winter ice climbers on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses.
    Two winter ice climbers on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses. (7 pitches of grade III ice)

    Winter ice climbers on a winter ice climbing course.
    A winter ice climbers on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses. Grade III

    Winter ice climbers on a winter ice climbing course.
    A winter ice climber on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses. Grade III/4

    Winter ice climbers on a winter ice climbing course.
    A winter ice climbers on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses. Grade IV

    Winter ice climbers on a winter ice climbing course.
    Two winter ice climbers.

    Winter ice climbers on a winter ice climbing course.
    A winter climber Toping out on an winter ice climbing course
    Grade IV and big cornices.

    Winter ice climbers on a winter ice climbing course.
    A winter ice climber on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses.

    Winter ice climbers on a winter ice climbing course.
    Three winter ice climbers on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses. "Andromeda IV/4"

    Winter ice climbers on a winter ice climbing course.
    Anna guiding winter ice climbers on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses. Grade IV/4 Coire an Lochan.

    Winter ice climbers on a winter ice climbing course.
    One of Climb365's winter ice climbing instructors.

    Winter ice climbers on a winter ice climbing course.
    Two winter ice climbers in the Northern winter ice climbing cliffs of the Caringorms.

    Winter ice climbers on a winter ice climbing course.
    Stuart Guiding a winter ice climber on a winter ice climbing course.

    Winter ice climbers on a winter ice climbing course.
    A winter ice climber on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses. Full on winter ice climbing.

    Winter ice climbers on a winter ice climbing course.
    Two winter ice climber on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses. Twisting gully III/4

    Winter ice climbers on a winter ice climbing course.
    A winter ice climber on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses. Patey's route IV/5

    Winter ice climbers on a winter ice climbing course.
    Two winter ice climber on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses. Astroturfer III

    Winter ice climbers on a winter ice climbing course.
    A winter ice climber on one of Climb365's winter ice climbing courses. Coire an Lochan IV/4

    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.
    Winter climbing on a winter climbing course.

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    Contact details

    Climb365,
    Dales Cottage,
    111 Milnthorpe Rd,
    Kendal,
    Cumbria,
    LA9 5HH.

    Tel: 01539 739 186
    Mobile: 07880 742799 ( Stuart ), 07968 706498 ( Anna )

    email: carter@climb365.net

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    guided ice climbing