Summer Mountaineering: Advanced

OVERVIEW

This course is for more experienced scramblers & climbers aiming to become independent and self-sufficient on Grade III scrambles and easy rock climbs. You’ll gain the essential skills to move safely and efficiently through technical, exposed terrain.

Scrambling blends hillwalking, climbing, and mountaineering. Our focus is on teaching you when and how to apply these skills in each of these disciplines on ever-changing terrain - developing confident decision-making, ropework, and movement in complex ground.

COURSE OUTLINE

Lead your own scrambles:

Learn the skills and decision-making needed to safely lead Grade III scrambles and easy alpine-style rock climbs and move together and efficiently when appropriate to do so

Develop rope work systems:

Practice short pitching, direct belays, moving together, and appropriate rope techniques for varied terrain

Place solid protection:

Gain confidence in placing and assessing gear (nuts, slings, cams) and building reliable anchors in the mountains using a limited scrambling specific rack

Route-finding in complex terrain:

Learn to interpret guidebooks, choose safe lines, and adapt plans to your skill set and the mountain conditions

Movement coaching:

Refine your footwork and body positioning for technical ground, including controlled down-climbing​

Risk management & judgement:

Build the ability to assess hazards, make sound decisions under pressure, and understand when to rope up, move together or move unroped​

Abseiling and retreat skills:

Practice abseil setups and techniques for descending safely from difficult or unplanned terrain

Apply your skills on classic scrambles:

Tackle iconic routes across the Lake District, putting your learning into real practice
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Guided Technical Scramble

-Two days of guided scrambling on a challenging routes to teach and demonstrate relevant skills.

Emphasis on route-finding, protection placement, and efficient movement.

-Gear and Equipment
-Gear selection for technical scrambling.
-Proper fitting of helmets, harnesses, and specialised equipment.

Advanced Scrambling Techniques

-Focus on precise footwork, handholds, and body positioning on technical terrain.
-Introduction to down climbing techniques.

Rope Work for Scramblers

-Introduction to basic knots and hitches.
-Roped movement as a team on exposed terrain, with the guide leading the scrambles.

Use of Protection

-Proper placement and assessment of natural and artificial protection.
-Abseiling techniques for steep descents.

SKILLS COVERED

-Using technical gear such as nuts, cams and hexes
-Tying in and setting up as a rope team
-Belaying methods: direct, indirect and body belays
-Placing and removing protection
-Ropework for scrambling; short pitching and minimising risk
-Taking coils and rope management
-Anchor building and selection
-Movement coaching
-Route-finding and terrain reading
-Abseiling and retreat techniques