Mountaineering And Climbing Instructor Training

Overview

You’re an aspiring Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor and you’re aiming to excel when you take your assessment. So you’ll need to learn from the best in their field, who set the standard for outdoor instruction and will share their specialist knowledge with you, putting you to work, and pushing you to achieve your goal. This nine day training course covers all the essential aspects of the syllabus for the Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor Award. You’ll hone your skills in; the technical aspects of rock climbing and mountaineering , improvised rescue, teaching, the mountain environment, navigation and group adventurous activities. You’ll work hard out in Eryri’s (Snowdonia’s) spectacular mountains by day, and attend evening lectures and activities to supplement the practical with the theory that supports it. The duration, intensity and activity on this course make it unique among Mountain Training qualifications. It’s a learning experience that stays long in the memory.

The Objectives

You’ll leave inspired and motivated to progress on to the Mountaineering and Climbing Instructors Award Assessment, enabling you to instruct mountaineering and climbing skills in the UK and Ireland in Summer conditions. You’ll gain many new technical climbing and mountaineering skills, develop your judgement, and gain an understanding of the standard of the qualification. Through feedback and reflection you’ll have a clear understanding of your current abilities and an action plan towards assessment.

What to Expect

We’ll work with the Mountain Training syllabus, concentrating on areas that are difficult for you to learn on your own. The nine days are generally split into the following

Teaching climbing at a single pitch crag

Introduction to problem solving

Taking people climbing – Multi-pitch

Teaching climbing – Multi pitch

Problem solving in a multi pitch setting

Using nuts and bolts from Day 1 in context at the crag

Risk assessment, coaching movement, route finding with and without a rope, safe-guarding climbers on steep terrain, appropriate use of anchors, varying technique to reflect ability and terrain, navigation techniques.

In addition, there’ll be evening classroom or centre based sessions, covering the more theoretical aspects of the syllabus

Individual Action Plans will be considered at the end of the course.

Experience Required

Training course bookings must not be made until your Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor registration application has been approved by Mountain Training.

To gain the most from this course, you should arrive feeling fit, and confidently leading VS 4c. The focus of the course is managing and teaching others so you should have the personal fundamental skills of climbing. To help you operate safely and effectively, and to maximise your learning Plas y Brenin and Mountain Training recommend you have;

• Updated your logbook to accurately reflect experience post successful Mountain Leader assessment
• Confidently climbed VS and sport F6a (or above) within the month leading up to the training course
• Climbed a variety of graded scrambles, (ideally roped for some or all)
• Completed further Quality Mountain Days, including poor visibility navigation and in unfamiliar areas within the month leading up to the course
• Recent leadership experience as a Mountain Leader
• Recent experience of teaching climbing on a single pitch crag, and running sessions in the climbing wall
• Read the Mountaineering Instructor Handbook
• Read Rock Climbing by Libby Peter.

Your practical preparation should include;

• Being tidy and efficient with your rope work – try to eliminate any twists or tangle
• Practise fundamental rescue skills in a safe environment e.g. tying off the plate, simple hoisting, escaping the system, prussiking
• Practise taking coils
• Refresh your summer Mountain Leader skills including ropework, navigation and environmental knowledge.
• If your registration has been approved but you’re not sure that you’re ready for training, please contact Mountain Training or Plas y Brenin to discuss your next best step.

Useful Books:

• Hillwalking by Steve Long (MLTUK official publication)
• Rock Climbing by Libby Peter (MLTUK official publication)
• Navigation by Carlo Forte (MLTUK official publication)
• Complete Guide to Rope Techniques by Nigel Shepherd
• Handbook of Climbing by Fyffe & Peter
• Rock Climbing for Instructors by A. Richardson
• Nature of Snowdonia by M. Raine
• Hostile Habitats by Mark Wrightham and Nick Kempe

How Should I Prepare?

You must be registered on the Mountaineering Instructor Award scheme with Mountain Training prior to attending this course and have the required experience. The greater the level of experience a candidate has beyond the minimum requirements the more they are likely to benefit from the training course.

Download course handbook here

Note: Our instructors will assess any safety equipment you bring with you. If they consider it to be below the required standard, you will be asked to use equipment provided by Plas y Brenin.