International Mountain Leader Winter Training

Overview

Our highly qualified experienced instructors will develop your knowledge of all aspects of the winter environment through both practical application on the mountains and some short technical lectures. As always, the skills of navigating will form an integral part of each day’s activities.

The Objectives

The International Mountain Leader scheme (IML) provides comprehensive training and assessment for individuals who aspire to work as leaders in Europe and further afield. It integrates training, experience and assessment in a variety of realistic situations. The scheme provides training and assessment in the skills required for leading and educating groups worldwide in summer conditions and also on easy snow-covered, rolling, Nordic-type terrain in the “middle mountains” in winter conditions. The scheme does not involve the techniques and equipment of mountaineering, alpinism or glacial travel.

What to Expect

• Winter leadership and group care in winter conditions
• Personal movement skills on snow (with and without snowshoes)
• Route choice, terrain evaluation, and safe travel
• Avalanche awareness and snow pack evaluation.

Experience Required

You should be 18 years old to attend this course. Before you book onto an International Mountain Leader Winter training course, you must have completed an IML Summer training course. It’s advisable to gain some snowshoe experience prior to attending this course.

How Should I Prepare?

It’s advisable to gain some snowshoe experience prior to attending this Mountain Training accredited course. You should also prepare a five minute chat on an environmental topic that interests you prior to your arrival on the training course. You’ll be required to deliver this on the hill to your group. Other literature and useful resources you may want are;

• BAA app Be Avalanche Aware;
• Environmental information and any crib cards you use;
• Avalanche Card or Snow & Slope cribs;
• Books containing information about animal track and signs in winter