Mountain Safety
Alpine Trip Next Year?
New DVD gives you the essential beta
The MCofS and BMC filmed a new Alpine Essentials DVD during the first week of August. The conditions during the five day shoot were very mixed with only one full day of clear weather. The project was based in Arolla and three days were spent at the Cabane des Dix with filming taking place on Mont Blanc de Cheilon and the surrounding ridges and glaciers.
The DVD depicts two mountaineers climbing an alpine peak, highlighting the challenges they face and the skills required to deal with them. There are separate chapters covering topics such as glacier travel and crevasse rescue, moving together, abseiling and via ferratas.
Written and directed by MCofS and BMC staff, production costs are being covered by the Catherine Smith Memorial Trust, the Ceinwen Faulkner Memorial Trust and the Jonathan Conville Memorial Trust. The Mountain Training Trust is providing technical support for the duration of the production. The DVD will be launched at the Kendal Mountain Film Festival this November.
BUY NOW for XMAS
Special price to MCofS members
Alpine Essentials is available to members at the discounted price of £13.99 (incl. p&p). Order your copy using the Order Form on page 82. The DVD can also be purchased from outdoor shops at the full price of £15.99.
Avalanche!
Education programme 2007
This coming winter, the MCofS will be running a series of one-day “Avalanche Awareness” courses based in the Cairngorms. Aimed at the general winter hill goer, the courses are non-certificated and will be suitable for anyone wishing to increase their knowledge of snow and avalanches, learn which areas to avoid and improve their understanding of reports and forecasts. Each course will consist of an indoor introduction to avalanche theory followed by a practical session on the hill.
The courses will be delivered by qualified and experienced personnel at a ratio of 1 tutor to 4 participants. Basic winter skills will NOT be covered.
The course costs £35 per person and the dates are as follows:-
Saturday 20th January 2007
Sunday 27th January 2007
Saturday 28th January 2007
For more information please see the website or send a SAE to the office.
MCofS Safety & Good Practice Seminar
for Scottish University
Mountaineering, Climbing and Hill walking Clubs
18th & 19th November 2006 - Glenmore Lodge, Aviemore
For further details please contact the MCofS Mountain Safety Adviser, Roger Wild.
roger@mountaineering-scotland.org.uk
Experience the Scottish Winter
at Tiso’s
Stuart Johnston and Pete Hill have once again teamed up with the Mountaineering Council of Scotland and Tiso to present the very successful, informative and entertaining winter experience lecture series. The lectures provide the perfect environment for hands on experience with a selection of equipment, plus other elements to enhance your safety in the mountains this winter.
All the lectures start at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £3.00 and are available from Tiso shops.
Mon 15th Jan Stuart Johnston Tiso Edinburgh Outdoor Experience
Tel: 0131 554 0804 or 0131 225 9486
Tue 16th Jan Stuart Johnston Tiso Glasgow Outdoor Experience
Tel: 0141 559 5450 or 0141 248 4877
Tue 16th Jan Pete Hill RGU Climbing Centre, Aberdeen
Tel: 01224 634 934
Wed 17th Jan Stuart Johnston Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling
Tel: 01786 464 737
Wed 17th Jan Pete Hill Discovery Point, Dundee
Tel: 01382 221 153
Thu 18th Jan Pete Hill Tiso Inverness Outdoor Experience
Tel: 01463 716 617
River Crossings
‘Water Hazards in the Mountains’ & ‘Water Safety for Walkers’
NOW as DVDs
The VHS videos which were launched in 2002 have been converted to DVD format and are now available for sale.
The DVDs raise awareness of the dangers of mountain streams and rivers and the information and skills provided include crossing in easy summer conditions, changes that occur in water levels after rain or snowmelt, pre-planning (studying maps and weather forecasts), choosing a safe place to cross while on the hill and when not to attempt crossing. Also covered are the recognised methods of crossing rivers and fast flowing streams as recommended by the Mountain Training Boards.
There are two versions - Water Hazards in the Mountains, which is designed for the training of Mountain Leaders as well as mountaineers and clubs operating in remote or serious terrain and Water Safety for Walkers, which is for youth groups and leaders of hill walking groups and expeditions in lower hill country.
The DVDs are available from the MCofS Office or selected retailers priced £6.99. MCofS members may purchase it from the office at the discounted price of £4.99.
WINTER SKILLS TRAINING COURSES
The Glenmore Lodge Winter Skills Courses
Over 100 course places
£50 discount off the normal price for all members of the MCofS.
Sponsored by sportscotland and Glenmore Lodge.
For general enquiries or to check availability please contact:
Glenmore Lodge Tel: 01479 861 256
Course Dates
Friday 5th – Sunday 7th Jan 2007
Friday 12th – Sunday 14th Jan 2007
Friday 19th – Sunday 21st Jan 2007
The courses are two days long, the dates show the evening of arrival (Friday after 1830hrs), departure is tea time on Sunday. There are two levels of course, they will run concurrently on the same dates. We cannot guarantee sufficient snow to cover all aspects that we would like to but we will offer relevant training and you are guaranteed some individual tuition.
Introduction to Winter Hill Skills: Cost £115
Covers basic skills of navigation, winter safety, avalanche avoidance, walking with axe and crampons, ice axe self arrest, and much more (conditions permitting); it will not involve any use of ropes. The staffing ratio is 1:6
Introduction to Winter Mountaineering Skills: Cost £160
Training in winter skills at a more advanced level involving basic rope work and looking at winter belays (conditions permitting). You should already have some basic winter walking skills; experience of rope handling is useful but not essential. It is not a winter climbing course but is aimed at developing the skills of winter walkers looking to take on some of the classic lower grade mountaineering routes and ridges in winter. The staffing ratio is 1:4.
COURSE ADMINISTRATION
Cost includes accommodation on Friday and Saturday nights in either twin rooms on a shared basis or in our chalets in bunk bedded accommodation, all meals from breakfast on Saturday to tea and cake at 1700 on Sunday, instruction, hire of equipment and transport during the course to the hill and back.
There is no evening meal provided on Friday, bar meals are available from the Glenmore Lodge bar from 1700 to 2100 hours. The course however will start with an evening brief on Friday at 2000 hrs followed by equipment issue and crampon fitting. Ideally you should therefore aim to be at the Lodge and fed by 2000 hours on Friday.
The courses are only open to those 18 years of age and older.
Equipment
An important note about boots:
As you will not be following paths and may be on steep and hard snow to provide some realism to the training, it is essential to be properly shod. If you have your own good quality rigid soled 3 – 4 season boots and a well-fitting pair of crampons which definitely will not come off, you will be able to use them. Otherwise, you will be supplied with plastic rigid soled winter boots and crampons. Secure footwork is the cornerstone of safe winter travel and it is one of the skills that will be covered on the course. Rigid boots with soles in good condition are essential for secure footwork. This is a major safety issue.
You will need to bring an OS 1:50,000 map sheet 36 of the Cairngorms. (A 1:25,000 is not appropriate for navigating in this area under winter conditions), a map case or waterproof map, a compass of the Silva type 4 or similar quality, a head torch and batteries and lastly, several pairs of winter mitts and waterproof outer mittens. You should have your own basic warm winter clothing fleeces etc. Maps, map cases and compasses are available for purchase from Glenmore Lodge shop.
We can supply basic waterproofs, ice axe, boots, crampons and any other technical equipment.
Bookings and Conditions
These courses are only advertised in this magazine and are only available to MCofS members. Please complete the application form and return it to Glenmore Lodge with the full payment. Any cancellation before six weeks of the start date of the course will result in the loss of a £35 administration charge, the remaining course fee being returned. This fee will also be charged should you decide to change your booking to a different person, date or course level.
Cancellation within six weeks of the course will result in the loss of the full course fee unless the place can be sold to another MCofS member, in which case the fee less the £35 administration charge will be refunded. If the Course is cancelled for any reason Glenmore Lodge will refund the course fee in full.
Applications will only be accepted on the attached application form (or photocopy) with a membership number or club details. Applications must be sent to Glenmore Lodge not the MCofS. Cheques made payable to “Glenmore Lodge” please.
Should you wish to stay overnight on Sunday this can be arranged subject to availability on a B&B basis, there is no evening meal on Sunday but bar meals will again be available in the Lodge bar. Please tick the box on the application form and add £20 to the course fee. If we are unable to fit you in due to our other course bookings we will refund you this charge.
You are advised to consider taking out your own insurance to cover cancellation, curtailment and personal accident.
Affiliated club members and group bookings.
Clubs are advised that we can only accept individual bookings (with payment). Group bookings have caused problems in the past and we can no longer deal with these issues. Club secretaries should ensure that all the information on this page is passed to their members and not simply the booking form. It is essential that members understand what the course will cover.
