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Avalanche Training Day 2024
Lake District based avalanche awareness courses
Course overview

Can you ever put a price on safety? No you can't, but these courses are run at a fixed low price to minimise the risks of people putting off getting these key safety skills. The courses take place in the Lake District. They are a mixture of classroom sessions, and outside practical sessions, to teach you as much as possible. Many use these courses as pre-season training.
You are taught the use of avalanche transceivers, shovels, and probes. You also focus on avalanche prediction, how to construct snow pits and to do Rutschblock tests to assess a snowpack.
We can loan avalanche transceivers, snow shovels and probes for the day, but if you have your own you are recommended to bring them to learn how to use them better. We only schedule the courses when there is normally snow on the fells, but can run the courses without snow anyway.
The days are led by qualified Guides or International Mountain Leaders, who are part of our regular Alpine guiding team. Due to the huge instructional element, we ensure that the leader is British so that they can explain all the essential safety information really informatively.
On demand: Scheduled dates are guaranteed to go ahead, and is a total price for private guiding for 1-4 people. For larger groups, or for extra dates, please contact us to check availability.
Dates: these are listed in the column on the right, and they show the live availability from our secure online booking system. When you book online, you receive immediate confirmation, your Course Information Booklet, course specific kit list and invoice.
Course Itinerary

Key learning points

In the morning at 09:30 you meet up with your instructor who will be an expert in backcountry and snow safety. They talk through the plans for the day, and the latest conditions. Then it's time for a route safety plan, and sorting out any safety kit that is needed.
There is a great choice of locations to operate these courses, depending on the amount (or even a lack) of snow in the Lake District. We can always find a suitable and safe location to react to the avalanche forecast.
The day is conducted in the mountains where you can study the snow pack safely, and a classroom session with a presentation about avalanche awareness. The course is of equal use to winter walkers / climbers, as it is to skiers or boarders.
This course should give you a greater level of autonomy for your off piste days or winter walking. If you would like to read a bit about avalanche avoidance skills before your course, read this article written by one of our instructors: click here to view article.
The syllabus of the course goes into great detail, in terms of route choice, avalanche safety and crystal analysis. Some of the key learning points for the day are detailed on the right.
ITINERARY NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries. Mountain adventures are weather and conditions dependant, so occasionally we are forced to alter the plans. If this is the case, suitable alternatives are offered. Please use this outline itinerary as a guide to the types of route / activity that you will attempt.
Evolution of the snow pack
Avalanche transceiver searches
Rutschblock stability tests
Transceiver detection fields
Trip planning and preparation
Avalanche form / release patterns
Different types of avalanches
Crystal metamorphasis
Slab formation and layering
Victim recovery methods
Travel techniques on snowpacks
Assessing different snow profiles
Decision making processes
Weather & climatic influences
Identifying islands of safety
Photo of soft slab avalanche debris near the Leschaux hut, Chamonix
Course Prices
Standard course
1 full day guiding, 1:4 max ratio
1 day holiday in total, usually Fridays
£180
Live availability
Click on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
Latest Availability
Secure online booking system
Standard Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain Guide or UIMLA International Mountain Leader for 1 day, 2) Resort course hosts for logistics & briefings, 3) Pre course information booklet, 4) Equipment discount voucher for UK shops, 5) Loan of avalanche safety gear during the course, if required.
Exclusions: 1) Travel to & from the national park for the course, 2) Equipment hire such as boots or waterproofs, 3) Bar / food bills & tips, laundry, telephone calls, 4) Accommodation (if required).
Notes: The loan of avalanche safety kit is included (tranceiver, avalanche probe and shovel) if required.
Current course availability

Course Dates
Avalanche training day
  • No Dates Available
NOTE: This trip has scheduled
dates for private guiding of up to 4 people. It can be run on extra dates if you contact us to check availability

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Price: £180 Book online

Alternative courses
UK mountain skills weekend
Summer Alpine Intro course
Winter Intro Ice & Alpine

Client feedback

Just as important as doing my first aid course every three years. Thanks all.

Steve H , UK Avalanche Course


I was recommended this training day by a friend, and did it as part of a long weekend in the Lakes. It was well structured and thought prokoving, and gave me a lot of good tips for what to look out for in the backcountry.

Alan T , UK Avalanche Course


The weekend was a great refresher of all the skills I needed to brush up on.

Claire M , UK Avalanche Course

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Travel to this trip by train
Train to Windermere
Timings for this trip are such that you can arrive in the Lake District at Windermere just
after 9am on the first train from London or Manchester (on West Coast main line), and can depart in the afternoon the next day. This means that only 1 night of local accommodation is required.
Location data for this trip
The meeting point for these courses is at our office in Windermere in the Lake District National Park. There is easy access by car, and the train station is just 150m from the office door. From here there are a huge variety of mountain terrain to opt for, so we can cater for all weather and conditions. We genuinely believe that the Lake District is second to none with the quality and quantity of mountain training opportunities.
Why choose our trips?
Practising skills for moving over steep ground
The photo above sums it up. All our guiding team for this trip are locally based, and the Lake District is their home. They know the mountains like the back of their hand.
Our office base in Windermere is essential for organising local pre trip logistics and backup support whilst we are out in the hills. You're looked after on and off the hill.
If you still have any queries, give us a call on 01539 44 22 17.


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