The 1st December marks the start of meteorological winter.

An update from George McEwan, Mountain Training Scotland Executive Officer

Whilst the snowfall from Storm Arwen still covers many of the Scottish mountains, we head into this winter against a background of climate change (and a resultant impact on weather and winter conditions), but we also still have an on-going pandemic to deal with, the impact of which is equally as unpredictable, and potentially as disruptive. These are two factors that neither MTS nor our Providers have any influence over:

• winter conditions and
• the impact of an on-going global pandemic.

With regards conditions our desire is to provide viable and authentic Winter Mountain Leader course experiences that adequately prepare/test candidates for operating as Winter Mountain Leaders in the harshest environments in the UK – the high winter mountains.

It is our intent to do what we can to ensure our Winter Mountain Leader courses are as resilient to COVID restrictions as we can. However, in the case of managing a pandemic and associated government guidance and restrictions, that can change quickly in response to the COVID situation, we have no access to such long-term planning options. Whilst now in Scotland we are working to the guidance for sport detailed within Scottish government ‘Beyond Level 0’ guidance there is no guarantee that come winter we will not be working to more rigorous restrictions, including those on travel.

As you can appreciate this gives MTS, our Providers, and their staff an additional organisational challenge to manage. It is, however, MTS’ and our Providers’ intent to provide Winter Mountain Leader training and assessment courses this coming winter season.

Weather and conditions impact on Winter Mountain Leader courses

The key principle we (Winter Mountain Leader Providers in discussion with MTS) follow when deciding as to whether we would run a Winter Mountain Leader course is “you start it - you finish it”. When deciding to run a course we must have full confidence that given the conditions and forecasted weather we can complete the course. This means not starting a course to “see what happens” with the risk of abandoning it part way through. Such a “see what happens” approach is not fair on our candidates and potentially leaves them in a very difficult to reconcile place the following season.

Providers will start a Winter Mountain Leader course knowing full well that they will complete it. This we think is better for our candidates as they can go into their course having the confidence that they will have a viable and authentic Winter Mountain Leader experience – be it training or assessment.

Candidates should also be aware that there is no such thing as ‘ideal conditions for a Winter Mountain Leader’ course. What are good conditions for cramponing and step cutting may not be so good for self-arrest or avalanche awareness. Sudden thaw conditions can impact on programme activity.

Where for those syllabus topics where realistic training cannot be undertaken, for example due to weather/conditions, a detailed action plan will be provided to candidates.

COVID-19 and Winter Mountain Leader temporary scheme adaptations

Regarding COVID and its impact on course provision. For the past 18 months MTS-approved Mountain Training scheme providers have all been implementing and working to specific CV-19 risk mitigation measures whilst adapting and shaping their course provision to Scottish Government COVID-19 guidance and restrictions.

To support our providers and their staff in this process MTS have sought to outline key adaptations that our providers can apply to their Winter Mountain Leader course provision model and associated programmes. Whilst these have still to be discussed in detail with our providers and their staff the expectation is we’ll implement the following temporary scheme adaptations: Proposed Winter Mountain Leader Scheme Temporary Adaptations Winter Mountain Leader training and assessment courses can be delivered with the following additional provisos:

• Minimum course size for all courses is reduced to 2 candidates.
• Snow holing: No multiple occupancy snow hole use, and this includes shared construction. Providers and their staff have extensive experience of methods for adapting the scheme expedition phase due to unfavourable conditions, examples of which include, but are not limited to, walking through the night with a short halt to dig a single person emergency shelter within which to cook/brew then continue on; phased extended day into night activity.
  
  Whilst single occupancy tent use may be an option, i.e. to allow overnight stay out which may include digging single occupancy emergency shelters, course staff should be mindful of the additional weight and weather/conditions constraints on their use. Bothies should be avoided (except in emergencies) to abide by the Bothy Code and for the same reasons as we are avoiding multiple occupancy snowholes.
  
  Providers and course staff will be mindful of the additional physical burden such activity may place on staff and candidates, especially during assessment.
  
  Training courses will still appropriately prepare candidates to use snowholes as they may well return for assessment in a post CV-19 time when multiple occupancy snowholing and multiple days overnights may be possible.
• For syllabus topics where realistic training cannot be undertaken, for example due to physical distancing restrictions, or low ratios, and/or weather/conditions, a detailed action plan will be provided, and candidates made aware of this restriction at the time of booking on their course.

View or download a full full details: .

Course cancellation/being unable to attend a course

It is an inescapable fact that at some point this winter our providers will have to cancel a course, or a candidate will be unable to attend their course due to COVID-related events outwith their control. The following are the most likely scenarios where candidates may not be able to attend their course:

• Those individuals who have COVID-19 symptoms should not attend their course and should self-isolate and book a COVID-19 test.
• Candidates who have been asked to self-isolate should not attend their course.
• Candidates due to COVID-19 travel restrictions are unable or advised not to travel to attend their course.
• COVID-19 restrictions prevent Providers from running courses.
• A course does not go ahead due to weather and snow conditions precluding being able to deliver viable and authentic training/assessments.

In all cases MTS providers will be flexible regarding all possible options including rescheduling your course place and will discuss with candidates a mutually suitable way forward. Candidates are advised to contact their course provider directly if they have any concerns regarding being able to attend or complete a Winter Mountain Leader course.

Online resources

We have a Winter Mountain Leader online resource based on the ‘Snow and Avalanche’ syllabus of the scheme. It’s free to access.

As we go into this winter MTS is confident that together, our experienced staff team and network of approved providers, are equipped to navigate the challenges winter and COVID-19 throw at us, but please, we will require your support, engagement and understanding in this process.

Have a great winter!