Mountain Safety Skills for Ski-Mountaineers and Splitboarders 2025
Winter mountain safety skills courses for Ski-Mountaineers and Splitboarders.
These courses are an introduction to wild skiing in the Scottish mountains for experienced skiers or snowboarders The courses will teach the mountain skills necessary to move safely on skis or splitboard over Scotland's munros. We will not focus on skiing or snowboarding descent skills.
COURSE DATES
This coming winter, 2024-25 I have not scheduled any courses due to other commitments. However I have some limited availability, so please contact me if you are interested in a bespoke course.
We also run Winter Skills courses for hillwalkers.
COURSE CONTENT
The courses are suitable for any experienced skiers or snowboarders who want to try moving beyond the pistes. While experience of winter hill-walking in Scotland is an advantage it is not necessary to have this beforehand. However minimum downhill skiing (or boarding) ability is essential. You should be able to descend some black runs, and come down red runs in all snow conditions, from moguls to fresh to icy conditions, moving both confidently and efficiently.
Areas we'll aim to cover whilst travelling over the tops of some munros include the following:- route planning, avalanche assessment, navigation on skis, use of ice-axe and crampons, basic ropework and belays. Each course will be kept very flexible to adapt to the needs of the clients who book. We will also have to adapt to the Scottish weather and snow conditions, which can be very unpredictable.
We often use one-shot lift access for the first day of the course to allow more time to practice skills. The cost of this IS NOT included in the course fee (£15-£25 depending on ski area)
These courses are designed for those with their own ski-mountaineering skis or splitboards.... but I can help you to hire equipment if you need it (ski-mountaineering kit only). I can provide ice-axes, crampons and avalanche safety kit free of charge if needed.
Please note that while these courses often run in the Aviemore area, others run in the Fort William & Glencoe area and around Ben Lawers in Perthshire. Accommodation is not included in the cost.
BOOKING
To book a course please print a Booking Form (PDF) (or use the .DOC version) and read the full Booking Conditions. I'll require a completed booking form returned by post or email and a 50% deposit payment per person. Full payment is due two months before the course.
See also Further Details below
and our Safety and Risk Statement
PHOTOS
Heading up onto our first munro on our March 2022 splitboarding course. In perfect weather (but very icy conditions) we did a day tour over A'Mharconaich and Geal Charn when everyone got to use their ice-axes, crampons and splitboard crampons for the first time.
A perfect splitboarding day on Meall nan Tarmachan, near Ben Lawers, March 2020.
Skiing the NE ridge of Ben Nevis, May 2015.
We normally use the wee town of Aviemore in the Scottish highlands as a base for these courses, but do also use Fort William sometimes. There are various accommodation options in these areas, including hostels, B&B and *** and **** hotels. I can help with arranging accommodation once you have booked a place on one of these courses. Travel to these areas is easiest done by car from most of Scotland or northern England. From further afield it is possible to arrive by train to either Aviemore or Fort William, or fly into Inverness airport and rent a car (or we may be able to pick you up there). If you want advice on travel and accommodation options before booking please ask!
Ski-Mountaineering equipment can be rented in Aviemore if you don't have your own, splitboardng kit is very hard to find on hire.
2025 COURSES & COSTS
This winter I am not scheduling any courses due to other commitments. However I am available several weekends, and a few days midweek for bespoke courses if you have a group of friends interested. My prices are based on a two person course, but I can do a 1:1 course for a higher fee. I can also offer discounts on the prices below if you have a group of three or more persons. These prices are for guiding/instruction only. They don't include your accommodation and travel to the area, or ski hire, but we can help you arrange these.Private Bookings - 2-day course fee -- £185 per person.
Private Bookings - 1-day course fee -- £115 per person.
Estimated Accommodation & Meals (1 or 2 nights) -- £100 to £150 per person
Skiing in the hills above Glen Lyon, March 2014.
Skinning up towards the summit of Ben More, May 2015. The peak in the background is Stob Binnien, with the very nice NE face descent on the left.
Ski-mountaineering is an adventurous activity and all clients will be
exposed to an element of risk by taking part in this course. While we take
all reasonable precautions to reduce risk it is neither possible nor
desirable to completely eliminate these additional risks. Some of these
hazards carry the risk of serious injury or death. It is important that you
understand the risks involved before signing our booking form. We have
identified the following areas as the principal additional risks of this
itinerary. This is not a fully inclusive list - please ask if you would like
to see our more detailed risk assessment for this course before booking.
Remoteness : You will be several hours away
from professional medical help for much of the time. In bad weather rescue
and hospitalization could take many hours.
Weather : Bad weather,
including gale and storm force winds, freezing temperatures and blizzard
conditions are extremely common in the Scottish mountains. Whilst forecasts
are generally quite good these days and we will plan our course to avoid the
most extreme weather, we cannot foresee all eventualities.
Navigation : There is a small risk, in extreme weather, of becoming lost in
the mountains.
Mountain & Skiing Hazards : In certain places you may be subjected
to a risk of rockfall. There are risks of injury from skiing falls and from slipping and sliding
on snow.
Avalanche : In the Scottish mountains in winter avalanches are common.
Whilst we take all reasonable measures to avoid exposure to avalanche risk,
we cannot foresee every eventuality, nor control what other mountain users
do.
A more detailed and extensive full Risk Assessment is available for our winter courses. You should read this before booking!
