gl mountain guides logo

Tel: +34 660 013 445
info@guidinglight.org.uk

WINTER SKILLS COURSES
Looking forward to winter? How many times have we done that and yet been disappointed by the poor weather and lack of snow? Read On!

Our winter mountaineering courses are held in Spain's Sierra Nevada mountains during the months of December through to the end of May. These hills are ideal with good snow lasting well into June. The north faces of Mulhacen and Alcazaba offer both beginner and experienced mountaineer good long routes in a quiet environment. In addition the ample sunshine hours guarantee good climbing weather. Our 4 wheel drive vehicles transport you to 2,500 metres in the Sierras. Here within a mile radius are snowbowls, gullies and cliffs galore. Excellent training areas exist all within easy reach of our transport....no 3 to 4 hour walk-ins to the snows anymore! Maximum time can be spent in learning the skills necessary to be in the hills in winter or to ascend Alpine peaks. After acquiring those new skills we take you into the hills, thus allowing you to put them into practice in a big mountain environment.

A typical course content is as follows:
2 DAY COURSE
Topics covered:
Kitting out for winter
Use of Ice Axe
Use of Crampons
Avalanche awareness
Roping up
Snow belays - use and suitability
Ice Axe braking (self arrest)
Abseiling
Crevasse Rescue
Snow Climbing and introdution to dry tooling
Moving together on mixed ground
Snowshoeing

4/6 DAY COURSE
Additional to the 2 day course a combination of the following will be done depending on snow and weather conditions:
Ascent of Veleta (3,398 metres)
Traverse over Veleta to Poqueira Hut via Collado del Veleta
Ascent of Mulhacen (3,479 metres)
Mixed climbing on Puntal de la Caldera (3,215 metres)
Traverse of Tajos de Nevero ridge
Ascent of Cerro de Caballo (3,215 metres)

PRICE WITH ACCOMMODATION, ACTIVITIES AND AIRPORT TRANSFERS
€100 (approx £70) per person per day
Price includes:
Airport transfers, holiday activity as described, accommodation in villa, bunkhouse, hotel or mountain hut, local transport and backup vehicles, experienced Alpine and UK guides, gear hire if req'd (axe, crampons, helmet, harness, skis or snowshoes )

PRICES FOR DAY ACTIVITIES ONLY
Alpujarra walking per day - €50
Sierra Nevada Peaks per day - €70
Winter Skills per day - €70
Ski Touring per day - €70
Snowshoeing per day - €70
Climbing activities per day - €70
Price includes:
Local transport, backup vehicles, experienced Alpine, local and UK guides, gear hire if req'd (axe, crampons, helmet, harness, skis or snowshoes)

Climbs suitable for the conditions and ability of the party will be made during the trip. In the main these courses are suitable for experienced hill walkers who wish to include winter mountaineering in their repertoire and for those who wish to use it as a pre-alpine course.
On the summit Ice axe braking practice

Great locations for ropework skills
First steps in winter belaying instruction Dry Tooling practice Heading up Mulhacen south ridge
Dangling around trying to prussik up a rope Alpine instruction in moving together on a rope Powder snow on ridges, Sierra Nevada
Veleta N face Being lowered over the edge! Made it!


Originally created on 10th Oct 2002