Glencoe Winter Skills Weekend

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The first weekend trip of 2024 and we are going to... Glencoe!

 

You will be required to have full membership to the club to attend and purchase a ticket for this Weekend. It is recommend to purchase a ticket as early as possible as weekend meets tend to sell out fast.

 

This is the clubs annual winter skills training weekend, where you will have the opportunity to be taught the required skills for navigating and hiking in the Scottish mountain terrain in winter under safe guidance. You are of course welcome to attend the trip even if you have been trained (General Ticket), only those trained will be eligible to attend the trip should they purchase a General Ticket, if you have not been trained then please purchase a Winter Skills Ticket.

 

We will be making the journey up to Glencoe on the Friday afternoon/early evening and will likely have staggered leave times for the transport, this will be discussed in the pre-trip meeting.

 

Activities

Those who purchase a Winter Skills Ticket will recieve training over the weekend in the basics of mountaineering in winter conditions. This will include use of ice axe and crampons, ice axe-self arrest, navigation, winter safety, avalanche awareness and emergency procedure amongst other things. It will not involve any ropework.

 

It is VITAL that you come prepared for full days on the mountain in winter.

 

For those that are buying a General Ticket (no training delivered) as always, you make your own plans for what you want to do during the weekend. However, we will and can support you with tips for route choices and we will of course make our own plans which you will be invited to join!

 

There will be a presentation on the Saturday evening for everyone attending about avalanche awareness, planning and weather.

 

This trip sees us return to a favoured place, with fond winter memories from our first weekend trip as a reformed club last January. We have a wide choice of accessible ranges from the hall at our disposal from Glencoe itself to the Mamores, and not forgetting the Loch Creran Munros.

 

Accomodation 

We are staying at Glencoe Village Hall, so bring your own sleeping mat and bag, these can be borrowed from the club but there is a limited number. As always if you are unsure please contact the committee.

 

Facilities include:

- Fully equiped kitchen

- Shower

- Large hall for sleeping/planning/social activities

- Conference room

- WC

 

We will need to clean the hall before we leave and we expect everyone to help with this, and in usual GCUMC fashion we aim to leave the place cleaner than we found it.

 

What to bring/Kit

This trip will need the usual stuff for a day on the mountain detailed in the winter kit list. It is imperitive that you read through the list, especially if you are new to winter mountaineering. If you're unsure on what to bring please contact us.

 

The club is able to provide ice axe, crampons and helmets, but it is preferable that you bring your own as we have a limited amount of crampons in particular, these will be given out on a first come first serve basis. If we do not have any more available you will be required to rent them from Tiso (or buy your own) which you should sort BEFORE travelling on this trip. We are not able to provide any boots. You will require crampon rated boots (B1/2/3).

 

Winter equipment and boots can be rented from Tiso if you do not already own/can't borrow them. We will have enough helmets, crampons and axes to provide to all those who are training.

 

You will not be permitted to take part in any activity without the correct equipment.

 

As this is a weekend trip we will be sleeping in the hall for 2 nights, you will be required to have a sleeping bag and sleeping mat (we have 5 of each, first contact first serve, you MUST have your own sleeping bag liner to use a club sleeping bag) along with your winter day sack for the trip, prepare for 2 days worth of winter mountain activity. It is also important that you bring something to eat in the evening, although there are places to eat nearby.

 

Pre-Trip Meeting

Date: 8th January

Time: 7pm

Where: MS Teams

 

This pre-trip meeting is there to discuss any questions and talk through the gear list, which you will receive via e-mail closer to the date. This will also be the perfect opportunity to plan any group meals.

 

Ticket

Price: £60

 

Tickets are on sale from 6th December at 5pm until 7th January at 5pm

 

The ticket cost includes: Accomodation and transport. Those with a Winter Skills Ticket will also recieve training.

 

Tickets do not include food on any of the days so bring your own.