Intro to ski touring - Fort William area
Feb
8
to 9 Feb

Intro to ski touring - Fort William area

This is a chance to experience ski touring for the first time. The first day will often be based from either Glencoe or Nevis Range ski areas to get to snow quickly with day two being a journey day.

We will look at the differences with ski touring kit, how plan a ski tour, how to skin, transition and ski safety back down.

Aims and objectives - introduction to ski touring through journeying

Pre requisites - able to ski linked turns on red pistes. Fitness level to ascend 1000m per day. Some experience of off piste skiing. Ideally have a ski touring set up*

*if not we can help organise hire

£180 per person, 2 day course, max ratio 1:4

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AAC UK members winter skills week - February
Feb
24
to 26 Feb

AAC UK members winter skills week - February

We are pleased to again be the official provider for 2025 of these courses to Austrian Alpine Club UK members

The purpose of the event is to develop and practise techniques for winter mountaineering.  Below are aims and expected content (skills and knowledge) for this course. Included are indications of suitable experience to access the course.

Due to the flexibility offered by small ratios, it has been decided to only offer a 2 tier programme. 

Winter Skills, 1:4 maximum (Winter mountaineering is the other programme) 3 days

The content and itinerary for each course will be flexible to allow for the prevailing weather conditions and participants’ experience. Each evening, it is hoped to provide lectures on key safety topics.

This is a closed (instruction only) course in Glencoe, more info on the AAC UK website

Aims - Learn and develop the key winter skills for safe walking in the UK mountains in winter conditions

Prerequisites - Summer hill walking.

(All courses require a good level of hill fitness. As a general rule you should be capable of walking for a day of 5-7 hours, ascending 1000m with a 10kg rucksack, in summer conditions. This should be over consecutive days)

Content -

How to move on snow, including kicking steps

Use of ice axe for walking, cutting steps and self arrest

Use of crampons in ascent and for descent

Avalanche awareness

Safe route choice

Navigation and route planning

Equipment and clothing 

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AAC UK members winter mountaineering week - February *NOW FULL*
Feb
24
to 28 Feb

AAC UK members winter mountaineering week - February *NOW FULL*

NOW FULLY BOOKED - RESERVE LIST OPEN ONLY

We are pleased to again be the official provider for 2025 of these courses to Austrian Alpine Club UK members

The purpose of the event is to develop and practise techniques for winter mountaineering.  Below are aims and expected content (skills and knowledge) for this course. Included are indications of suitable experience to access this course.

Due to the flexibility offered by small ratios, it has been decided to only offer a 2 tier programme. 

Winter Mountaineering, 1:4 first two days, 1:2 final three days (Winter skills is the other programme)

 As such participants will be paired according to similar abilities and aspirations, allowing individual aims to be achieve. This may vary from independently climbing a grade 1 gully to seconding grade 5, so although these courses are called mountaineering they equally suit aspiring winter climbers.

The content and itinerary for each course will be flexible to allow for the prevailing weather conditions and participants’ experience. Each evening, it is hoped to provide lectures on key safety topics.

This is a closed (instruction only) course in Glencoe, more info on the AAC UK website

Aims - Learn and develop the technical skills for movement on steep ground and ridges

Prerequisites - Winter hill walking with ice axe and crampons and summer scrambling

(All courses require a good level of hill fitness. As a general rule you should be capable of walking for a day of 5-7 hours, ascending 1000m with a 10kg rucksack, in summer conditions. This should be over consecutive days)

Content -

Revisit movement skills using ice axe and crampons

How to move on steeper ground

How to make and use snow anchors, including buried axe and snow bollards

How to use rock anchors

Rope work and belaying

Abseiling using snow anchors

Avalanche awareness

Safe route choice

Navigation and route planning

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Intermediate ski touring
Mar
1
to 2 Mar

Intermediate ski touring

This is for more experienced skiers; maybe you have been on an introductory course but don’t feel confident to go it your own in Scotland.

Through two days of journeying we will look at some of the best days we can given conditions. Typical hill areas visited to ski include Creag Meagaidh, Bridge of Orchy hills and the Ben Lawers range.

Aims and objectives - two days of journeying

Pre requisites - ability to ski linked turns on red pistes. A level of fitness to ascend 1000m per day. Some experience of ski touring. Ideally have a ski touring set up*

*if not we can help organise hire

£200 per person, 2 day course, max ratio 1:4

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AMI Teaching Scrambling CPD
Apr
12
9:00 am09:00

AMI Teaching Scrambling CPD

As part of our training and assessment for MIA/MCI* we are taught and demonstrate our ability to roped scramble with clients however little of this process is us teaching them instead we use it as a ‘vehicle’ to access or travel over mountaineering terrain.

We will have all had clients who wish to progress from grade one scrambling and learn ropework and techniques for protecting themselves on tougher ground.

This is a mix of led workshop and peer-to-peer session giving us all the opportunity to share ideas and discuss different options for teaching such as taking coils, short pitching techniques, what building blocks do we teach clients who are fundamentally walkers not climbers/how do we progress climbers to become ‘efficient yet safe’ on this terrain  (Therefore full member only)

Lead – Simon Verspeak WMCI

Contact -  simon@orange-mountaineering.com to book a space

Location - Snowdonia

CMS link - mt.tahdah.me/event/detail/1061320

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Crib Goch/Snowdon horseshoe scrambling day - Easter
Apr
18
7:00 am07:00

Crib Goch/Snowdon horseshoe scrambling day - Easter

TWO SPACES REMAINING

Crib Goch has to be one of the best mountain scrambles in the UK. Meeting early in Nant Peris we will take the bus* up to Pen y Pass and aim to complete the Snowdon horseshoe**, starting with Crib Goch, crossing Crib y Ddysgl and visiting the summit of Yr Wyddfa (queues dependent!). Finally we will scramble over Lliwedd before returning via the bus to the start.

Price: £75 per person, max ratio 1:4

All scrambles will be led by qualified mountaineering instructors with extensive local knowledge.

*bus ticket and parking fees not included

** in the case of bad weather, an alternative route or date will be offered

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Mountain Training Rock Skills Learn to Lead trad weekend - Snowdonia
Apr
19
to 20 Apr

Mountain Training Rock Skills Learn to Lead trad weekend - Snowdonia

Following Mountain Trainings Rock Skills syllabus, we will aim to give you the skills to lead rock climbs using traditional protection. Utilising venues in Snowdonia, we will progress your skills at your own pace.

https://mt.tahdah.me/event/detail/1059793

Prerequisites:

Essential - multiple days of rock climbing either on top rock or as a second. Can lead belay. Have the desire to lead climb

Desirable - have led either indoors or on sport

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AMI Teaching Scrambling CPD
Jun
7
9:00 am09:00

AMI Teaching Scrambling CPD

As part of our training and assessment for MIA/MCI* we are taught and demonstrate our ability to roped scramble with clients however little of this process is us teaching them instead we use it as a ‘vehicle’ to access or travel over mountaineering terrain.

We will have all had clients who wish to progress from grade one scrambling and learn ropework and techniques for protecting themselves on tougher ground.

This is a mix of led workshop and peer-to-peer session giving us all the opportunity to share ideas and discuss different options for teaching such as taking coils, short pitching techniques, what building blocks do we teach clients who are fundamentally walkers not climbers/how do we progress climbers to become ‘efficient yet safe’ on this terrain  (Therefore full member only)

Lead – Simon Verspeak WMCI

Contact - simon@orange-mountaineering.com to book a space

Location - Snowdonia

CMS link - https://mt.tahdah.me/event/detail/1061329

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Self rescue evenings series - 3 - Going down
Nov
21
7:00 pm19:00

Self rescue evenings series - 3 - Going down

I’m going to be running a short series of evenings this autumn in the climbing focused on self rescue for climbers

Third one - Going down, looking at abseils

£25 for 2 1/2 hour session (wall entry not included)

Max ratio 1:4 (will run with 1 booking)

Pre requisites - be leading on trad (any grade)

Email simon@orange-mountaineering.com to book

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Self rescue evenings series - 2 - Coming Up
Nov
13
7:00 pm19:00

Self rescue evenings series - 2 - Coming Up

I’m going to be running a short series of evenings this autumn in the climbing focused on self rescue for climbers

Second one - coming up! Hauls and prussiking

£25 for 2 1/2 hour session (wall entry not included)

Max ratio 1:4 (will run with 1 booking)

Pre requisites - be leading on trad (any grade)

Email simon@orange-mountaineering.com to book

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Mountain Training Rock Skills Learn to Lead trad weekend - North Pembrokeshire
Sept
7
to 8 Sept

Mountain Training Rock Skills Learn to Lead trad weekend - North Pembrokeshire

Following Mountain Trainings Rock Skills syllabus, we will aim to give you the skills to lead rock climbs using traditional protection. Utilising venues in North Pembrokeshire, we will progress your skills at your own pace.

https://mt.tahdah.me/event/detail/952850

Prerequisites:

Essential - multiple days of rock climbing either on top rock or as a second. Can lead belay. Have the desire to lead climb

Desirable - have led either indoors or on sport

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Mountain Leader Refresher day - Snowdonia
Aug
23
9:00 am09:00

Mountain Leader Refresher day - Snowdonia

Are you heading towards Mountain Leader assessment? Do you want some targeted prep?

This day could be perfect for you!

Delivered by Simon Verspeak, an experienced trainer and assessor and course director

Day will be steered by candidate demands but likely to look at navigation, leadership and steep ground management and ropework

Based from Llanberis, 1:4 max ratio, £80 per person

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AMI MCI trainee workshop - taking people climbing
Aug
18
9:00 am09:00

AMI MCI trainee workshop - taking people climbing

Preparing for your Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor assessment can be difficult. It is a complex award but workshops delivered by the Association of Mountaineering Instructor training team can help close the gap.

This day is aimed at looking at how we take people climbing; what decisions we make in terms of venues, progressions and which ropework systems suit the clients.

This day is delivered by Simon Verspeak, an experienced workshop trainer and a long time award holder who has taught plenty of climbers

Info here mt.tahdah.me/event/detail/898864

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AMI MCI trainee workshop - Mountaineering
Aug
17
9:00 am09:00

AMI MCI trainee workshop - Mountaineering

Preparing for your Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor assessment can be difficult. It is a complex award but workshops delivered by the Association of Mountaineering Instructor training team can help close the gap.

This day is aimed at looking at all elements of moving clients around in the mountains; specifically short roping and pitching on scrambling terrain

This day is delivered by Simon Verspeak, an experienced workshop trainer and a long time award holder who has taken loads of people scrambling and mountaineering

Info here mt.tahdah.me/event/detail/898867

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AMI MCI trainee workshop - teaching climbing
Jul
14
9:00 am09:00

AMI MCI trainee workshop - teaching climbing

Preparing for your Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor assessment can be difficult. It is a complex award but workshops delivered by the Association of Mountaineering Instructor training team can help close the gap.

This day is aimed at looking at how we teach climbing to a range of students and aspirations and at both single and multipitch crags

This day is delivered by Simon Verspeak, an experienced workshop trainer and a long time award holder who has taught plenty of climbers

Info here mt.tahdah.me/event/detail/898862

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Mountain Leader Refresher day - Snowdonia
Jun
21
9:00 am09:00

Mountain Leader Refresher day - Snowdonia

Are you heading towards Mountain Leader assessment? Do you want some targeted prep?

This day could be perfect for you!

Delivered by Simon Verspeak, an experienced trainer and assessor and course director

Day will be steered by candidate demands but likely to look at navigation, leadership and steep ground management and ropework

Based from Llanberis, 1:4 max ratio, £80 per person

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BMC Youth Ready to Rock - Intro to Sport - June
Jun
8
10:00 am10:00

BMC Youth Ready to Rock - Intro to Sport - June

We are pleased to announce we have become providers of the BMC youth introduction to sport climbing course

The Youth Ready to Rock Sport climbing course is designed to help young climbers (11-17 year olds) make their first moves onto rock by having a fun day out, as well as covering the use of some key skills and equipment, for both the participant and the parent/carer.

 £75 per young person

Conwy area

Please follow this link to book https://webforms.thebmc.co.uk/ready-to-rock-sessions

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AMI MCI trainee workshop - taking people climbing
Jun
2
9:00 am09:00

AMI MCI trainee workshop - taking people climbing

Preparing for your Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor assessment can be difficult. It is a complex award but workshops delivered by the Association of Mountaineering Instructor training team can help close the gap.

This day is aimed at looking at how we take people climbing; what decisions we make in terms of venues, progressions and which ropework systems suit the clients.

This day is delivered by Simon Verspeak, an experienced workshop trainer and a long time award holder who has taught plenty of climbers

Info here mt.tahdah.me/event/detail/898157

View Event →
AMI MCI trainee workshop - improvised rescue
Jun
1
9:00 am09:00

AMI MCI trainee workshop - improvised rescue

Preparing for your Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor assessment can be difficult. It is a complex award but workshops delivered by the Association of Mountaineering Instructor training team can help close the gap.

This day is aimed at practising your improvised rescue and to receive feedback. A wide variety of scenarios can be covered from simple to complex with an emphasis on safe and effective solutions.

This day is delivered by Simon Verspeak, an experienced workshop trainer and a long time award holder who has taught plenty of climbers

Info here mt.tahdah.me/event/detail/898148

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*ONE SPACE REMAINING* AAC (UK) members only Snowdonia Scrambling - May
May
11
to 12 May

*ONE SPACE REMAINING* AAC (UK) members only Snowdonia Scrambling - May

This summer we will again be running a series of weekends for AAC UK members in Snowdonia

These are grade 2 and 3 roped scrambling courses; perfect as an introduction to harder scrambling, if you’d like to learn some advanced ropework or as prep for going to the Alps

£250 per person, 1:2, based from Llanberis

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Crib Goch/Snowdon horseshoe scrambling day - Easter
Mar
29
7:00 am07:00

Crib Goch/Snowdon horseshoe scrambling day - Easter

Crib Goch has to be one of the best mountain scrambles in the UK. Meeting early in Nant Peris we will take the bus* up to Pen y Pass and aim to complete the Snowdon horseshoe**, starting with Crib Goch, crossing Crib y Ddysgl and visiting the summit of Yr Wyddfa (queues dependent!). Finally we will scramble over Lliwedd before returning via the bus to the start.

Price: £75 per person, max ratio 1:4

All scrambles will be led by qualified mountaineering instructors with extensive local knowledge.

*bus ticket and parking fees not included

** in the case of bad weather, an alternative route or date will be offered

View Event →
AAC UK members winter mountaineering week - February
Feb
19
to 23 Feb

AAC UK members winter mountaineering week - February

We are pleased to again be the official provider for 2024 of these courses to Austrian Alpine Club UK members

The purpose of the event is to develop and practise techniques for winter mountaineering.  Below are aims and expected content (skills and knowledge) for this course. Included are indications of suitable experience to access this course.

Due to the flexibility offered by small ratios, it has been decided to only offer a 2 tier programme. 

Winter Mountaineering, 1:4 first two days, 1:2 final three days (Winter skills is the other programme)

 As such participants will be paired according to similar abilities and aspirations, allowing individual aims to be achieve. This may vary from independently climbing a grade 1 gully to seconding grade 5, so although these courses are called mountaineering they equally suit aspiring winter climbers.

The content and itinerary for each course will be flexible to allow for the prevailing weather conditions and participants’ experience. Each evening, it is hoped to provide lectures on key safety topics.

This is a closed (instruction only) course in Fort William, more info on the AAC UK website

Aims - Learn and develop the technical skills for movement on steep ground and ridges

Prerequisites - Winter hill walking with ice axe and crampons and summer scrambling

(All courses require a good level of hill fitness. As a general rule you should be capable of walking for a day of 5-7 hours, ascending 1000m with a 10kg rucksack, in summer conditions. This should be over consecutive days)

Content -

Revisit movement skills using ice axe and crampons

How to move on steeper ground

How to make and use snow anchors, including buried axe and snow bollards

How to use rock anchors

Rope work and belaying

Abseiling using snow anchors

Avalanche awareness

Safe route choice

Navigation and route planning

View Event →
AAC UK members winter skills week - February
Feb
19
to 21 Feb

AAC UK members winter skills week - February

We are pleased to again be the official provider for 2024 of these courses to Austrian Alpine Club UK members

The purpose of the event is to develop and practise techniques for winter mountaineering.  Below are aims and expected content (skills and knowledge) for this course. Included are indications of suitable experience to access the course.

Due to the flexibility offered by small ratios, it has been decided to only offer a 2 tier programme. 

Winter Skills, 1:4 maximum (Winter mountaineering is the other programme) 3 days

The content and itinerary for each course will be flexible to allow for the prevailing weather conditions and participants’ experience. Each evening, it is hoped to provide lectures on key safety topics.

This is a closed (instruction only) course in Fort William, more info on the AAC UK website

Aims - Learn and develop the key winter skills for safe walking in the UK mountains in winter conditions

Prerequisites - Summer hill walking.

(All courses require a good level of hill fitness. As a general rule you should be capable of walking for a day of 5-7 hours, ascending 1000m with a 10kg rucksack, in summer conditions. This should be over consecutive days)

Content -

How to move on snow, including kicking steps

Use of ice axe for walking, cutting steps and self arrest

Use of crampons in ascent and for descent

Avalanche awareness

Safe route choice

Navigation and route planning

Equipment and clothing 

View Event →
Mountain Leader Refresher day - Peak district
Jan
6
9:00 am09:00

Mountain Leader Refresher day - Peak district

Are you heading towards Mountain Leader assessment? Do you want some targeted prep?

This day could be perfect for you!

Delivered by Simon Verspeak, an experienced trainer and assessor and course director

Day will be steered by candidate demands but likely to look at navigation, leadership and steep ground management and ropework

Based from Hathersage, 1:4 max ratio, £80 per person

View Event →
Self rescue evenings series - final Christmas session!
Dec
18
6:30 pm18:30

Self rescue evenings series - final Christmas session!

I’m going to be running a short series of evenings this autumn in the climbing focused on self rescue for climbers

First one - escaping the system

£25 for 2 1/2 hour session (wall entry not included)

Max ratio 1:4 (will run with 1 booking)

Pre requisites - be leading on trad (any grade)

Email simon@orange-mountaineering.com to book

View Event →
Self rescue evenings series - 3 - Going down
Dec
4
7:00 pm19:00

Self rescue evenings series - 3 - Going down

I’m going to be running a short series of evenings this autumn in the climbing focused on self rescue for climbers

Third one - Going down, looking at abseils

£25 for 2 1/2 hour session (wall entry not included)

Max ratio 1:4 (will run with 1 booking)

Pre requisites - be leading on trad (any grade)

Email simon@orange-mountaineering.com to book

View Event →
Self rescue evenings series - 2 - Coming Up
Nov
23
7:00 pm19:00

Self rescue evenings series - 2 - Coming Up

I’m going to be running a short series of evenings this autumn in the climbing focused on self rescue for climbers

Second one - coming up! Hauls and prussiking

£25 for 2 1/2 hour session (wall entry not included)

Max ratio 1:4 (will run with 1 booking)

Pre requisites - be leading on trad (any grade)

Email simon@orange-mountaineering.com to book

View Event →
Self rescue evenings series - 1 - Escaping the system
Nov
9
7:00 pm19:00

Self rescue evenings series - 1 - Escaping the system

I’m going to be running a short series of evenings this autumn in the climbing focused on self rescue for climbers

First one - escaping the system

£25 for 2 1/2 hour session (wall entry not included)

Max ratio 1:4 (will run with 1 booking)

Pre requisites - be leading on trad (any grade)

Email simon@orange-mountaineering.com to book

View Event →
AMI Teaching Scrambling CPD
Sept
25
9:00 am09:00

AMI Teaching Scrambling CPD

As part of our training and assessment for MIA/MCI* we are taught and demonstrate our ability to roped scramble with clients however little of this process is us teaching them instead we use it as a ‘vehicle’ to access or travel over mountaineering terrain.

We will have all had clients who wish to progress from grade one scrambling and learn ropework and techniques for protecting themselves on tougher ground.

This is a mix of led workshop and peer-to-peer session giving us all the opportunity to share ideas and discuss different options for teaching such as taking coils, short pitching techniques, what building blocks do we teach clients who are fundamentally walkers not climbers/how do we progress climbers to become ‘efficient yet safe’ on this terrain  (Therefore full member only)

Lead – Simon Verspeak WMCI

Info - https://mt.tahdah.me/event/detail/760759

Contact - simon@orange-mountaineering.com to book a space

Location - Snowdonia

View Event →
BMC Youth Intro to Sport
Sept
24
10:00 am10:00

BMC Youth Intro to Sport

We are pleased to announce we have become providers of the BMC youth introduction to sport climbing course

The Youth Ready to Rock Sport climbing course is designed to help young climbers (11-17 year olds) make their first moves onto rock by having a fun day out, as well as covering the use of some key skills and equipment, for both the participant and the parent/carer.

 £75 per young person

Conwy area

View Event →
BMC Youth Intro to Sport
Aug
9
10:00 am10:00

BMC Youth Intro to Sport

We are pleased to announce we have become providers of the BMC youth introduction to sport climbing course

The Youth Ready to Rock Sport climbing course is designed to help young climbers (11-17 year olds) make their first moves onto rock by having a fun day out, as well as covering the use of some key skills and equipment, for both the participant and the parent/carer.

 £75 per young person

Conwy area

View Event →
AMI MCI trainee workshop - teaching climbing
Jul
30
9:00 am09:00

AMI MCI trainee workshop - teaching climbing

Preparing for your Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor assessment can be difficult. It is a complex award but workshops delivered by the Association of Mountaineering Instructor training team can help close the gap.

This day is aimed at looking at how we teach climbing to a range of students and aspirations and at both single and multipitch crags

This day is delivered by Simon Verspeak, an experienced workshop trainer and a long time award holder who has taught plenty of climbers

Info here mt.tahdah.me/event/detail/691915

View Event →