MTA Mountain Skills Scheme Course places available: May 3/4th

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Now there's a mountain path!

Now there’s a mountain path!

Mountain skills is a 2 day 1 evening weekend course where we look at all the respects required to walk in the mountains. Handling steep ground , weather, mountain navigation, outdoor kit, emergencies and what to put in your rucksack. You will spend the weekend on some exciting mountain walks discussing all aspects of walking. You will get unlimited technical help from where to walk to the latest kit for as long as you want it so you can keep developing your skills

Route finding in the mountains

Route finding in the mountains

This is an ideal way to gain the confidence to tackle the harder routes like Crib Goch in Snowdonia
http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/mountain-skills-courses/

Wild camping on Snowdon

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What a sight to wake up to

What a sight to wake up to

What a great view to wake up to. With wild camping in Snowdonia you get to wake up in the most beautiful places! http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/walking/mountain-skills-course/
Looking around Cwm Tregalan on Snowdon

Looking around Cwm Tregalan on Snowdon

Tony, Fenella and Hunter on a Mountain Skills and Navigation course in Snowdonia

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Tony Fenella and Hunter with Adam and Eve

Tony Fenella and Hunter with Adam and Eve

The course was to get a feel for the mountains practicing complex route finding on steep ground and to brush up on navigation skills. We spent the first day on Tryfan using contour interpretation to navigate and how to read the rock in order to route find effectively. We approached Tryfan from the east up on to Heather Terrace then up the south Ridge to the summit. On the second day went walked on the Carneddau, up to Pen Yr Ole Wen via Cwm Lloer and traversed along the horseshoe ridge you can see from the road. We practiced pacing and timings whilst taking compass bearings. We discussed all the necessary outdoor kit required for the mountains from boot to hard shells. The weather held for us and we had a great time!

Tony, Fenella and Hunter in the Nant Ffrancon valley

Tony, Fenella and Hunter in the Nant Ffrancon valley

http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/mountaineering/navigation-courses-snowdonia/

MTA Mountain Skills Course just completed by Nick and Chris

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Nick scrambling up a steep arete

Nick scrambling up a steep arete

MTA Mountain Skills Course just completed by Nick and Chris

Nick and Chris got the most out of the mountains last weekend. Mountain skills is a weekend course where we practice skills in order to venture in the mountains. Everything required to look after yourself is covered from handling steep ground to what to pack in your rucksack. You will spend the time in the mountains discussing all aspects of high level walking. You will get unlimited technical help for as long as you want it to keep developing your skills.

What an ideal way to make sure you are safe in the mountains and to have the confidence to tackle harder walks!
http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/mountain-skills-courses/

Nick and Chris navigating in bad weather

Nick and Chris navigating in bad weather

Winter Navigation practice in the Cairngorm mountains.

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Taking a bearing is harder in winter with gloves!

Taking a bearing is harder in winter with gloves!

A day out practicing Navigation on the Cairngorm plateau. Which really has to be more of the most difficult places to navigate in bad weather.
http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/mountaineering/navigation-courses-snowdonia/

Want to improve your navigation? Try our contour navigation approach to finding your way around.

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I can see what is going on when I understand the contours of the landscape

I can see what is going on when I understand the contours of the landscape

Do you find it hard calculating routes from a-b using compass bearings, timings and pacings, and a storyboard based on map features like walls, boundaries, cairns or sheepfolds etc. This method of navigating has such a complex story board that it requires constant referring to the map and compass. Complex pacings and timings, not conducive to a comfortable walk in the hills and an interesting conversation with your companions.

Want to be able to navigate with your map and compass, for the most part, zipped inside your pocket. Navigating using contours can simplify your navigation on most days being able to identify complex train around can allow you to put simple story board together so you can navigation with your map in your pocket and actually speak to people in your group!
Have a look at what you can do http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/mountaineering/navigation-courses-snowdonia/

Mountain Skills Course

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Beautiful paths through the mountains

Beautiful paths through the mountains

This course develops the mountain skills you need, with the ability to navigate, finding routes on steep ground, selection of kit, all the skills required for walking at a high level in the mountains. If you are a beginner, hill walker, or looking to improve your skills for walking in the mountains, this course is just what you need to start extending your walking experiences. There is a on line walk logging system available to record your outdoor experience which would be useful if you continue your qualifications into the outdoor world. Click on http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/mountain-skills-courses-snowdonia/ to see what is available to you!

Mountain Navigation and Map Reading Courses available 2014

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Planning is important

Planning is important

Good navigation and map reading skills are of vital importance particularly if you are caught out in bad weather. We all know being prepared makes you much safer. Mountaineering Joe runs courses and offers private instruction, to help you to improve your navigation and contour interpretation skills. What you learn will enhance your enjoyment of mountaineering, scrambling and hill walking. For more information click here http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/mountaineering/navigation-courses-snowdonia/

Winter Conditions Navigation Course in Scotland

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Taking a bearing and walking on it in winter conditions is hard!

Taking a bearing and walking on it in winter conditions is hard!

We had a good time navigating in a white out for 5 Hours. Typical Scottish winter conditions, high winds, spin drift and freezing temperatures. This really effects your bearing taking, with the compass freezing up, but it’s good that you can get off the mountain in any conditions! http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/mountaineering/navigation-courses-snowdonia/

Advanced Mountain Contour Navigation 2 day Course

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Planning the next navigation leg with contour interpretation

Planning the next navigation leg with contour interpretation

Stephen is preparing for his ML assessment and wanted to practice navigation on steep complex mountain ground. So the course concentrated on contour interpretation on complex mountain terrain. This involves moving about the mountains by identifying features on the ground. This aids very fast navigation on ground where the compass and timings are not suitable tools to use. By building a story board Stephen and Alan managed to walk the entire length of their legs without reference to the map, learning to identify complex areas by their shape. It wasn’t long before they were ticking off these legs every time with accurately using these fast and efficient techniques. Do you want to focus on a particular part of your navigation? We can tailor a course specifically for your needs. http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/mountaineering/navigation-courses-snowdonia/