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inspirational mountain adventures
 
 
 
 
UK Mountain Training & Fitness Weekends
Fitness & Stamina
 
     
PHOTO: Reaching the summit crest of Llywedd in Snowdonia, on an Alpine Preparation weekend.
FEEDBACK: "Your teaching style and group management was excellent. I learnt everything that I
imagined that I needed to know, and then some!"
Mike O, Bedford, 2005
Course Overview

We operate these UK based skills courses in May and November each year, as these are the key two pre-season months before the Alpine seasons. We don't offer these courses at any other time of year, as they are run by our Chamonix UIMLA guiding team who are working in the Alpine region during the key seasons.

These weekend courses are designed so that you do not need to take any time off work, and yet maximise your learning and achievements during the two day course.
All the courses outlined below are guided by qualified International Mountain Leaders, who have extensive experience of trekking and climbing in the Alps and around the world on various expeditions. This is your guarantee of the highest standards, and great access to people who are used to guiding groups in the Alps throughout the year. Be ready for long days, as we want you to get as much as possible from these weekends.
The aim of the weekends is to help train people to be more autonomous and safe in the UK hills, and also to prepare them better for trips to the Alps or expeditions further afield in terms of autonomy, kit, and safety.
These weekends are open to anyone planning a first trip to the Alps in the near future. They are designed with Icicle clients in mind, who are booked on a forthcoming course, but these weekends are open to anyone.
A secondary aim of the weekends is to build up your mountain and cardio fitness for the Alps, and to offer suitable training tips to ensure that you avoid picking up sports training injuries before your trip.
The aim of the weekends are to tackle these key skills and training concerns of people visiting the Alps for the first time.....
1) SPEED: how best to move together over steep and broken ground.
2) WEATHER: predicting mountain weather from reports & charts.
3) EQUIPMENT: what to take, how to pack it, what to wear.
4) NAVIGATION: how to use a compass, maps, & GPS.
5) FITNESS: to build up your specific hill fitness level.
Dates: this course runs every single weekend in May and November, either for individuals or groups. For current availability please just send us an e-mail.
Icicle UIMLA guide Kingsley on Mont Truc
Course Photo Gallery
Outline Course Itinerary

SATURDAY - Meeting at 09:00 for a quick briefing, and a day of moving over steep ground. Also you will start to cover the basics of navigation. In the early evening there is a discussion about the kit you need in the Alps, and exactly what to select each day. After this you can meet up for food & drinks in town.

SUNDAY - Another day of walking on steep ground, with the instruction starting at 09:00, we aim to end the training by 16:00 so you can travel home. The focus for the day is weather prediction, more advanced navigation, and steep ground skills. At the end of the day you have the opportunity to get individual feedback and advice about your Alpine plans and preparation / training.
Location - The weekends are offered either in the Lake District or Snowdonia. You can choose which! In the Lakes we usually operate in the Langdale region due to the range of terrain found there, and in Snowdonia we normally use the Moel Siabod and Glyders regions. Obviously the exact choice is made in reaction to the prevailing weather and conditions, but this is to give you an idea of where we usually choose to go.
Accommodation - This is not included in the course price to allow you to budget efficiently, though you can camp in either region for approx £10pppn, stay in a local bunkhouse for approx £20pppn, or stay in a B&B. When you book on one of these courses, we provide details of local places you can book into.
Course Prices
Standard course
2 days guiding, based on group of 6 £99pp
Smaller groups
5 per £119pp, 4 per £129pp, 3 per £139pp,
2 people £149pp, or just 1 person £299
Secure online booking system
Standard Course Inclusions: 1) Qualified leader for daily guiding and instruction, 2) All costs and fees for the leader at the weekend, 3) Evening instruction session, 4) The provision of group safety kit (e.g. shelter & rope).
Exclusions: 1) Travel to & from the national park for the weekend, 2) Equipment hire such as boots or waterproofs, 3) Bar / food bills & tips, laundry, telephone calls, 4) Accommodation.
Notes: 1:6 maximum ratio, though we can provide multiple instructors for larger groups.