Introduction to Snow and Ice Climbing – Glencoe and Ben Nevis Range

introiceDates:  23/02/15 – 27/02/15

Duration:  5 Climbing Days

Client Instructor Ratio:  1:2

Price:  £600 (Course must be full for this price to apply – see page footnote)

Course Information

This course is intended to introduce people to the world of winter climbing, the focus being on intermediate snow and ice gullies and mixed routes where 2 axes are required.  Some rock climbing experience will be useful but not essential, however some basic winter experience is recommended in order to get the most from the course.

See Blog for winter condition updates.  Bad Weather Option.

If you like the idea of covering more ground with less intensive instruction then perhaps a more guided approach is what you are looking for?  Follow the link for more detail – Guided day or Instruction – what’s best for you?

What is included

list-tick Guided/Instructed days out
list-tick Technical Equipment
list-tick Accommodation
list-tick Breakfast
list-cross Evening Meal
list-tick Optional Avalanche Talk
list-tick Daily Transport*

*Note – We sometimes include transport to a course venue, or airport transfers for our overseas trips where indicated.  Contact Us to discuss.

Accommodation

B+B Accommodation is included on this course.  Prices quoted include sharing a twin room and offer 5 nights B+B,  we can also offer a single room if preferred at an additional cost of £7 – £10 per night depending on the time of year.  Should the course have uneven numbers or mixed sexes we will not charge extra for anyone ending up in a single room who would have been happy to share otherwise.  The booking will include the night before the course start date, but not the night after the last day as often people wish to leave.  Nights can be added and dropped on request, we recommend this is done well in advance.  A double room option is also available.

This course will run out of the brilliantly situated Fern Villa, see www.fernvilla.org.uk.  Based in Ballachuilish this allows easy access to the venues of Glencoe, Ben Nevis and the surrounding ranges.  Fern Villa provides a highly comfortable and relaxing base with a guest living room and drying room facilities.  There is the local Co-Operative for buying lunch supplies within easy walking distance.  For evening meals there is the Laroch Bar and Bistro only 150 yards away and the Glencoe Inn about a mile away, this can be walked to via the cycle path if you have energy to spare.  There are many other options within the area also, the well known Clachaig Inn is only a short drive away and popular with climbers.  There is a regular bus link with Fortwilliam and the nearest train station for those wanting to use public transport, we may be able to offer a free transfer if arriving late also.  Sometimes, depending on where people are travelling from, there is the potential to arrange car sharing reducing the travel costs for everyone as well as being a bit more eco friendly.

For our winter courses we offer an optional evening Avalanche Awareness Talk.

The relevant Kit List is in our Resources.

For more information please Contact Us.

Note – We can still run this course/trip even if it is not full, however there might be an additional charge to bring the price up to a minimum daily rate/trip price for the relevant course or trip.  Should a course not be viable due to lack of numbers we can discuss other options with you.  As everyone has different levels of flexibility with dates and cut-off times for cancellation it’s best if you let us know your situation when booking.  In situations where you have offered last minute flexibility but Mountain Circles can not fill a course and has to cancel, we will refund the course fee and deposit in full, if you cancel from a course that is full and running then normal conditions apply, see Cancellations in How to book.