WINTER MOUNTAIN SKILLS DofE RESIDENTIAL

 Begin your first steps to enjoying the mountains in winter with our intensive winter skills courses. Gain confidence in a wide range of winter specific skills, including how to choose and use winter equipment, basic winter navigation, safety and avalanche awareness. 

• Learn how to use crampons
• Use of the ice axe, including ice axe arrest 
• Develop avalanche awareness
• Route Planning
• Improve your winter navigation skills
• Becoming independent in winter mountains
• Winter weather & environment
• Emergency Procedures & making emergency snow shelters.

We can provide you with the following:

• Ice Axe
• Crampons
• Helmet
• Maps & Compasses
• Winter Mountain Boots that are crampon compatible, at least B2 rated

You will be required to bring:

• All your usual summer hill-walking equipment plus extra warm layers, hats, gloves, goggles, flask, etc (full Winter kit list will be sent to you)

To achieve your Gold Award, you need to complete an extra section – the Residential. This involves spending 5 days and 4 nights away from home on a shared activity with people you’ve never met before. It is a chance for the young person to step outside their comfort zone, gain new skills for life, enjoy new experiences and have fun. There is a near limitless range of opportunities and fantastic experiences that can be had on a residential. 

“Before I went on my residential, I was told by a few people that it would be a life-changing experience. At the time I didn’t believe them, but now I have returned, my perspectives on everyday life have been changed. Our experiences especially allowed me to grow as a person, gaining confidence and experiencing new sensations that very few people ever get to experience.”

Hannah, DofE participant

Our accommodation for winter courses will be just outside Aviemore, with a wealth of great outdoor venues around us. Each night you will return to warm and comfortable rooms. Breakfast & Dinner each day will be a hot buffet style. Packed lunches will be taken out with us each day. 

Free transport available from Glasgow Central Station & Perth Station to the Gold DofE Residential venue.