IML
Alpine refresher 2024 
Pre-assessment training
weekends, in Chamonix / Courmayeur
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| Training
overview |
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We
offer these Alpine training weekends for people
working towards gaining their UIMLA International
Mountain Leader qualification, which are most frequently
used as pre-assessment fine tuning. They are guided
by a longstanding member of the British Association
of International Mountain Leaders (BAIML). |
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The
itineraries of each weekend are intentionally very
flexible, to ensure they are tailored to exactly
what you wish to get out of them, and this page
gives you a flavour of what could be covered over
the weekend. If you are looking for a winter version
for an Alpine avalanche training weekend, click
here. |
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There
are three main scenarios where people usually book
one of these weekend courses in the Alps; |
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If
you are working towards an imminent assessment,
trainee's often seek a mock assessment style day,
to hone your technical or group management skills
and to get valuable last minute tips and training. |
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Often
a consolidation of skills is necessary or suggested
between assessments, and we can provide specific
coaching and essential experience to help you boost
your knowledge and technical skills. |
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Some
people get a deferal on an assessment, and want
to train for that specific topic before they present
themselves for re-assessment, and want to ensure
that they are ready to go for it. |
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You
can book a day as an individual on one of the scheduled
dates, or if there are at least three of you we
can operate this course on any weekend you wish,
at the same price. Where there is a larger group
looking to book together, get in touch as discounts
apply for groups of four or more people booking
together. |
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We
have a very extensive equipment store, so can provide
a wide range of technical equipment to use on these
courses, from avalanche transceivers, to snowshoes
or ropes and safety equipment. This is a great resource
to help you train as effectively as possible for
your assessment. |
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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 Alpine Information
Booklet, course specific kit list and invoice. |
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Brief
Course Itinerary
The
valleys and mountains surrounding Chamonix and Courmayeur
are blessed with hundreds of kilometers of trails over
all types of terrain, from forest tracks to high alpages
and mountain passes, and so the itinerary can be flexed
on any day to take account of weather conditions, to ensure
that you sample the best on offer. For this reason we
state that the course is in Chamonix / Courmayeur, so
the instructor can select the best location for teaching
you the skills, and where the weather and conditions are
best. The itinerary below is to provide you with a taster
of what you could achieve, and isn't fixed in stone. After
each day in the itinerary is an outline of the key teaching
focus points for every day, so you get a real idea of
what you can learn about.
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Saturday
Travel
to Chamonix to arrive for the 08:30 course safety
and itinerary briefings. There is time for kit checks
and you will meet your UIMLA guide, so can briefly
chat through your previous experience, background,
and aspirations for the weekend. They
will brief you on the latest weather and conditions,
and provide any extra equipment that may be required,
such as maps or safety equipment.
A typical day might be to ascend
into the Aiguilles Rouges over sections of ladders
and fixed equipment, and to practice crossing and
safeguarding groups on snow patches or steep ground.
There would be the opportunity to test your navigation
skills, and group management, as well as to do mock
assessment of elements that feature in an assessment
such as field presentations and ropework. You descend
to the valley, and there is an instruction session
on mountain weather prediction. Night in Chamonix,
not included in price. |
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Sunday
Meet
again at 08:30 for the second day of guiding. An
option might be to drive through to Courmayeur and
the Italian Val Ferret. There are many great training
areas, such above the Bonatti mountain hut, and
the peak of Tete Entre Deux Sauts above the Malatra
valley is a good objective. One element that it
is crucial to assess is your hill fitness, and this
summit offers unforgettable views across to the
huge south face of Mont Blanc. Again there is the
opportunity for more training on IML ropework, and
how to provide slick and seamless navigation. More
mock assessment elements will be tested, and you
return to the valley at the end of the day. There
is time for individual feedback on further elements
you can develop before your assessment, so you have
honest and realistic feedback on your current skills
set, and how you might perform on assessment. Return
to Chamonix, and you are free to depart. |
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| ITINERARY
NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries. Mountain
adventures are weather and conditions dependant,
so occasionaly 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. |
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| Course
Prices |
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Standard
course
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2
full days UIMLA guiding, 1:6 max ratio
2 days holiday in total, Saturday-Sunday |
£199 |
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Live
availability
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Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
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Secure
online booking system |
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| Inclusions:
1) UIMLA guide for two days, 2) Chamonix course
hosts for logistics & briefings, 3) Pre course
information booklet, 4) Equipment discount voucher
for UK shops, 5) Free 36 page technical Course Instruction
Booklet, 6) Road / train transport in Chamonix valley,
7) Logistics support and optional evening instruction. |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Personal laundry,
telephone calls, lunches, evening meals, & any
purchases in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants,
3) Cable cars and mountain uplift (not normally
required), 4) Activities insurance, & excess
baggage charges, 5) Travel costs outside Chamonix
valley (e.g. Mont Blanc tunnel tickets), 6) Chamonix
accommodation. |
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| Group
sizes: 3 - 6 people per UIMLA
guide. For group sizes of over 6 people, there are multiple
guides, and the teams travel independently of each other. |
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Current
course availability
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Course Dates
IML refresher
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NOTE:
This trip has scheduled
dates, but if there are three who
are booking together, it can be
operated on any date you wish.
Discounts apply for groups of
4 or more booking together. The
price for 2 people is £250pp. |
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Client
feedback
on IML's
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I
have just arrived back in Dublin, I
would like to thank you for a fantastic
week, it definitely exceeded my expectations
, and my limitations , I did not realise
I could walk so much and so high in
such remote areas (mainly due to Kingsley's
skill and style of motivation in such
a positive way). And to trek in three
countries in one week was amazing (France,
Switzerland , Italy). I was interested
to see what it would be like to go alone
on trip, and met with a great and interesting
group of people the week passed very
quickly. It was excellent to learn about
avalanches and such a vast amount about
general mountaineering Kingsley's knowledge
is endless. The organisation and communication
was excellent, even down to simple things
and where to find things, restaurants
etc. Once again thank you for a fantastic
week.
Niall,
Snowshoeing
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Thanks
you both once again for the superb snowshoeing
adventure! It was great and I thoroughly
enjoyed every minute of it. Kingsley's
outstanding knowledge and course material
was very useful and every snowshoeing
day was different, with a varied trek
and scenery
Nathalie,
Snowshoeing
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| Testimonials |
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| Press
& media |
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| Films
& videos |
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| Photo
gallery |
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| Free
resources |
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FREE
Podcast
Starting
snowshoeing
This podcast lifts the lid on the fastest
growing winter sport of snowshoeing,
what equipment is required, what to
wear, and what avalanche safety kit
to use... |
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| Training
suggestions |
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range of training that we can provide is only limited
by your imagination, and the award remit, but to give
you a flavour of what we can offer here are some popular
options we have offered outlined below. We are aware of
how the IML award has evolved over time, and are very
current with what is examined on assessment. This
list is not exhaustive, and is designed to give you a
flavour of what you can learn. You would be led by a top
UIMLA guide, click
here. |
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| Key
technical skills & topics; |
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Micro and macro navigation
and route finding, using maps, compass, GPS, and
altimeters |
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Managing a group on fixed
equipment including ladders, chains, wires and bolts
or pig-tails |
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Emergency ropework including
abseils, hoists, belays and lowering off techniques |
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Short-roping skills to use
for an individual who is struggling with the terrain,
or adverse conditions |
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Managing
snow belays or safeguarding groups on steeper ground
over snowfields in summer |
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Group
management, and how to adapt objectives to cater
for conditions, skills, weather and incidents |
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Leading
groups
Learn
common issues in groups
and how to best manage them
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Mountain
weather
Weather
and climatic change
in mountains & prediction |
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Alps
flora
& fauna
Alpine
flora and fauna are well tested core knowledge
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| Suggested
reading and kit |
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View
full course equipment list,
with examples of kit, click
here |
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| Any
further questions? |
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A
key part of choosing a company is being able to come and
talk about your plans with an experienced course advisor
face to face. In an increasingly virtual world, we know
our clients value speaking to real people, getting open
and honest advice. The vast majority of our clients are
British, and our office and outdoor store is based in
Windermere in the English Lake District.
 
Get
in contact to arrange a meeting, and come in for a coffee
to discuss your course in person with a trip
advisor. |
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