Mountain Leader Training
The Mountain Leader scheme is designed for people wanting to lead groups in the mountains of the UK and Ireland. We have teamed up with Mountain Training providers Adventure Expertise to offer this course.
Description
The Mountain Leader Training course is part of the Mountain Leader Scheme. This course is delivered by Adventure Expertise. Adventure Expertise are Mountain Training providers of the Mountain Leader and Lowland Leader scheme courses. The Mountain Leader scheme is designed for people who want to lead groups in the mountains, hills and moorlands of the UK and Ireland. Mountain Leaders operate the length and breadth of the country working with varied groups.
Mountain Leader Training courses are our chance to help you become the best leader you can. For us, the essence of great instructing is the ability to tailor the delivery to the appropriate level for each individual and to make the best use of the mountain conditions that are available. As such, we use our wealth of experience and extensive local knowledge to select the best venues and opportunities to introduce the principles of each skill in the syllabus. We’ll provide lots of opportunities to practice, in a progressive manner, so that you’ll finish the course confident in you ability to apply these skills in a variety of different scenarios.
Attendance Pre-requisites
Prior to attending this course you must have logged a minimum of 20 quality mountain days and have completed the registration process with Mountain Training for the summer Mountain Leader award. Details are available on the Mountain Training website here. If you do not have the prerequisite 20 quality mountain days logged in your log book, the course director is obliged by mountain training to either ask you to leave the course or will not record your attendance. The pre-experience is important as it allows the training to start at a leadership level rather than a novice level. Adventure Expertise will be in touch after booking to arrange payment.
First Aid
Mountain Leader Assessment candidates need an appropriate 16 hour Outdoor First Aid course. As providers of ITC first aid courses we can provide a suitable course. Full details on these are available here. We offer a substantial discount on first aid courses to anyone booking a Mountain Leader Training or Assessment with us. Full details on our discount scheme can be found on the Discount Packages tab above.
NGB Preparation
Sometimes candidates wish for assistance on their journey to assessment. We offer NGB preparation days to aid the journey. Full details on our preparation days are available here. We offer a substantial discount on first aid courses to anyone booking a NGB preparation day with us. Full details on our discount scheme can be found on the Discount Packages tab above.
Discount Packages
We want to be there with you on your National Governing Body (NGB) award journey. With that in mind, we are happy to offer substantial discounts to anyone booking a package of courses with us.
For anyone who books any NGB award training or assessment course with us, we offer the following discounts on first aid courses and preparation courses:
- 30% off one of our ITC Outdoor First Aid courses for anyone booking a Mountain Leader training or assessment course or 20% for anyone booking a Lowland Leader training or assessment course. Details on suitable first aid courses is here.
- 20% discount on any single NGB preparation days for anyone booking any NGB course with us. Details on or hillwalking NGB preparation days can be found here.
- 25% discount on any multiple NGB preparation days for anyone booking any NGB course with us. Details on or hillwalking NGB preparation days can be found here.
Attendance Pre-requisites
Prior to attending the course you must have logged a minimum of 20 quality mountain days and have completed the registration process with Mountain Training. Registration details are available here.
If you do not have the prerequisite 20 quality mountain days logged in your log book, the course director is obliged by mountain training to either ask you to leave the course or will not record your attendance on the course. The pre course experience is important as it allows the training to start at a leadership level rather than a novice level.
Course syllabus
As accredited Mountain Training course providers for the Summer Mountain Leader award, Adventure Expertise always ensure they are up to date with the latest syllabus developments and training methods. Below is a list of the main key topic areas of the Mountain Leader Training Syllabus:
- Group management
- Navigation
- Access and the environment
- Hazards (including steep ground and rivers) and emergency procedures
- Equipment
- Expedition skills
- Weather
- Background knowledge
In depth details on the course syllabus are available on the Mountain Training website here.
On this course, we will choose the content of each day to make the best use of the prevailing conditions, as well as the aspirations and ability of the team. As such it isn’t possible to provide a definitive programme, however, please view our sample itinerary below and use it as a rough guide:
Day 1
Introductions, ML Scheme Pathway, & Fundamental Navigation Skills
At the start of the course, there will be a short classroom-based session where your Course Director will go through the ML scheme structure and the format for your course as well as answering any questions you may have. Afterward, you’ll head out onto the hill for the rest of the day where we’ll look at developing your navigation skills and environmental knowledge.
Day 2
Introduction to Security on Steep Ground
This day will be spent introducing you to the various skills required of a mountain leader when operating on steep ground, including various emergency rope-work techniques.
Day 3
Security on Steep ground Development Day
This day will be spent putting all of the previous day’s skills into context. As such you’ll complete a mountain journey through sections of steep ground where you’ll get the chance to take turns being the leader and managing the group whilst under the watchful eye of the Trainer so they can offer you feedback and their hard-earned ‘top tips’.
Day 4
Mountain Day & Expedition Prep
Today is all about planning and leading a quality mountain day in the mountains. As such, you’ll be involved in planning a day out in the mountains and you’ll take turns leading the group and get the opportunity to put into practice the various skills you have learned thus far on the course. In addition to this, we’ll also undertake a short session looking at expedition kit and planning so that you’re all set for your mountain expedition
Day 5- 6
Mountain Expedition
For the final two days of the course, you’ll take part in a two-day mountain expedition, with one night spent wild camping. During this, you’ll get plenty of opportunities to develop your leadership and navigation skills, including a night navigation session. In addition to this, we’ll also look to develop your general mountain knowledge on topics such as; geology, flora & fauna, local history and folklore, and mountaineering history. At the end of your course, you’ll sit down with the course director and be given feedback on how you got on and what to do next, including an action plan of how to prepare for your assessment.
Accommodation
We don’t provide accommodation on our courses as some of our clients would like to stay in luxury accommodation, some in B&B’s, some in Bunkhouses and some like to camp. Therefore we feel our clients benefit from being able choose the accommodation they personally prefer in relation to their budget.
We are more than happy to recommend places to stay. As such after completion of your booking you will receive a course information pack which will contain further information about your course and a selection of local accommodation options.
