Winter Skills in Scotland, Avalanche Training in the Alps
I've just completed a regular slot of work I carry out on behalf of two UK Instructor Associations: the Mountain Leader Training Association (MLTA) and the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI). Both organisations ask their members to attend and log continuing professional development courses as part of their membership requirements. This year I ran a series of avalanche avoidance courses, teaching winter skills courses and short roping courses. All were well attended and it's a pleasure to work with motivated clients. Of course, Scotland being Scotland the best days for avalanche conditions occured on the days when we were not running those courses. Still, we made the most of conditions but it did make me realise how much more you can get done on skis!
And so I'm back in the Alps now, mostly on skis. I spent a day with Tom and Emily who are looking to maybe climb Mt Blanc in the summer. We spent the morning climbing (and abseiling back down) La Cremerie which is a pleasant 3 pitch ice climb about WI2/3. We then popped back to Grand Montets for lunch and caught the lift to Lognan. Afetr a quick whizz about on skis we went to the fantastic ARVA training area and spent a happy hour probing away.
Yesterday I ran an avalanche foundation course for the Avalanche Academy. Again we based it out of the Grands Montets resort and spent the day covering all sorts of terrain off piste. We focussed on observations throughout the day alongside evidence based decision making.
Blizzard
Cornice
Wipeout
transceiver...
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