Mountain Training Articles

There are plenty of ways to describe what it means to be psyched: being driven… passionate… dedicated… having an inner fire… wanting it… or just RARRRRR! In any sport being psyched is an essential part of success, never more so than in climbing. It’s the difference between just showing up and plodding along, and fighting for every last ounce of finger and arm...

19/09/2017 11:49

Which scheme is right for me

When time and money are short, you want to make sure you invest it wisely. But how do you know where to start? Our infographics might help, but if not, consider the following: Each of our schemes, whether it’s about personal skills or a qualification, has a particular focus so it’s a good idea to think about what you want to do in order to find the right one. In the hills - a Hill...

28/06/2016 16:00

Womens Trad Fest 2018 - Q&A

It was great to chat to so many people throughout the Women’s Trad Fest weekend about Mountain Training qualifications and climbing in general. Here are some of the questions that came up more than once… In order to attend a training course the personal climbing requirements are: 15 led trad routes (any grade) 15 led indoor routes (any grade) 5 led outdoor sport climbs (any grade) In...

10/08/2018 11:34

The Professional Mountaineer

The Professional Mountaineer is a quarterly magazine for members of four associations: AMI (Association of Mountaineering Instructors), BAIML (British Association of International Mountain Leaders), BMG (British Association of Mountain Guides) and MTA (Mountain Training Association). Articles are written by association members and cover a wide range of topics relevant to people in a leader,...

30/09/2016 12:41

How to be a better leader

If you want to develop your professional practice and be a better leader, it’s important to engage with others. Why? Because your experience will only help you improve if you are able to learn something from it and other people can help you with that learning process. At Mountain Training we have always advised candidates to make the most of their preparation for training and consolidation...

23/10/2017 12:21

The role of coaching in indoor climbing walls

As a climber, everyone wants to improve. To do this there are several options: climb more, read article after article, speak to friends, try new training methods, eat differently, or book a coaching session. Attitudes to coaching in climbing are changing, with most commercial walls offering coaching sessions in some form; whether it is with a well-known professional athlete or with one of the...

31/08/2017 15:20

#WomenOutdoors Week

To celebrate #WomenOutdoors week we've interviewed women with our qualifications to find out what makes them tick. How did they get started? Have they always been interested in the outdoors? What advice have they got for others thinking about doing a qualification? April Grayson - trainee Lowland Leader Laura Simpson - Mountain Leader Cressida Allwood - Mountain Leader Cat Trebilco - Winter...

05/08/2016 15:51

Moon stats

We launched our digital logbook (DLOG) in January 2014 and since then you've been very busy logging your adventures. Thanks to your diligent record keeping, DLOG is now full of crags and climbing routes all over the country, mountains in the UK, Ireland and further afield as well as an up to date list of climbing walls, some of which have only just opened! There are now 10 activities to choose...

04/09/2015 15:01

Recording CPD

The Mountain Training Association promotes its full members as leaders, instructors and coaches who hold nationally recognised qualifications and actively undertake continued personal development to ensure their skills and experience is up to date. This makes continued personal development (CPD) an important part of being a full member of the association. If you have not yet passed an assessment...

11/10/2016 16:55

Mountain Training and MTA

Q. Are Mountain Training and the Mountain Training Association the same thing? A. No. The Mountain Training Association (MTA or ‘the association’) is a membership organisation for people who hold, or are working towards, Mountain Training qualifications. Membership is optional and highly recommended. The association provides support and development opportunities as part of a UK and...

06/10/2016 14:03

You Tube Tips

Chris Lucas's recent article in the Autumn edition of The Professional Mountaineer shared the advantages and disadvantages of using YouTube to teach skills. Here are Chris's top tips for best practice when creating video content: Sound really matters. There are some fantastic affordable cameras now, including smartphones, that can capture HD visuals. Much of your content and the overall...

09/09/2015 11:59

Fatal Accident Inquiry - Skye

Produced 19/12/14 Fatal Accident Inquiry by Sheriff Principal Derek C W Pyle into the death of Graham Greig Paterson who died in Coire na Banachdich, Cuillin Mountains in late December 2012. The Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of Graham Paterson, who died on Coire na Banachdich in December has just concluded. The Sheriff’s determination was given on 4th December 2014 and published...

19/12/2014 12:28

Winter Skills Videos - Avalanche Forecasts

Avalanche forecasts are an integral part of any day in the mountains and to look after people in the mountains is very much a hands-on process for most. But for those of you who like a good video, here are a few that should help you prepare for Winter Mountain Leader training and/or assessment. The Scottish Avalanche Information Service produce daily avalanche forecasts for certain regions of...

12/12/2014 15:03

Winter Skills Videos - Security on Steep Ground

The ability to manage and look after groups on steep ground in the winter environment is an integral part of being a Winter Mountain Leader. Here are a few videos that will help prepare you for your Winter Mountain Leader Training or Assessment, inspire you to register for the award or refresh your skills for the forthcoming season. An overview of skills and techniques for safe travel on steep...

16/12/2014 17:30

Winter Skills Videos - Ice Axe Self Arrest

Good personal movement skills are key to moving around the hills safely and efficiently. The following videos are designed to show you the techniques to self arrest a slip or a slide. Even with good skills there is always a possibility of taking a slip or a trip and if you do, having the appropriate techniques to self arrest is paramount. To be able to self arrest effectively, it's...

16/12/2014 17:31

Winter Skills Videos - Navigation

Winter navigation brings with it addtional challenges such as reduced features, shorter daylight hours and white out conditions, making it all the more important to be confident in knowing where you are. Using 4 features to verify where you are is a very useful tool to give you confidence in your position before starting the next leg. Using a GPS to back up you navigation skills and...

16/12/2014 17:32

Bursary achievement for Razia

Earlier this year we secured some funding for aspiring black and minority ethnic (BME) leaders. It is available for BME individuals who want to get training to lead others in the outdoors, or in a climbing wall. Razia Anwar from Blackburn is one of our first recipients. She currently plans group activities helping Asian families and mums appreciate the outdoors. She is passionate about being a...

01/09/2014 15:42

A Team of Two

To claim a link between the climbing coaching revolution and Shauna Coxsey’s success on the World Cup circuit may be a tad premature, but it is a wonderful coincidence that Shauna’s World Cup gold medals have come in the first full year of the nationally accredited coaching scheme for climbing. Mountain Training launched the scheme last October after much consultation and planning....

22/09/2014 11:14

Unusually Brilliant Hill Skills

Is this the happiest man in the world right now? Could that be because he's just completed a Hill Skills course? I was on the hunt for a course that would give some good foundation skills in navigation, always considered kicking off some mountain training courses, did a bit of a search on the Mountain Training website and voila! Perfect blend between a simple introduction but with enough focus on...

24/06/2014 10:57

Learning Skills for the Hills

The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust ran a Hill Skills Training Weekend to provide a practical introduction to the safety and navigation skills required for independent hill walking.Based at Malham Tarn Field Centre, the course followed the new Hill Skills course syllabus launched by Mountain Training in April this year. Thanks to financial support from Mountain Training England, a group of eight...

03/07/2014 09:06

Replacement pass certificates

Since 1 January 2014 all candidates passing a Mountain Training award receive an official certificate. These certificates are fraud and tamper proof. Each certificate carries branded hologram, watermark, embossed Mountain Training logo, unique number and heat reactive spot. If you would like to buy a replacement pass certificate for any qualifications held please contact the office on 01690...

20/06/2014 16:22

Mountain Legacies

On the 21st May I attended an event at The Literary & Philosophical Society (Lit & Phil) in Newcastle upon Tyne. The Lit & Phil is the largest independent library outside London, housing over 150,000 books. Titled 'Mountain Legacies' the event was organised by Dr Abbie Garrington (Newcastle University) and Dr Chris Donaldson (Lancaster University), to celebrate and discuss the...

27/05/2014 10:01

Walking without a leg to stand on

Quadruple amputee Jamie Andrew gained his Mountain Leader award after losing both hands and feet. Nicola Jasieniecka caught up with him to discuss climbing the Matterhorn, mountaineering for people with disabilities and his involvement with the GB Paraclimbing team. My parents took me hill walking, in Scotland and the Lake District, from a young age. I hated it! But as I grew older I really began...

14/04/2014 15:38

How to Pass Your Mountain Leader Assessment

For many people, becoming a Mountain Leader is the gateway to a whole new world of opportunities. Assessments aren't everyone’s favourite pastime, however, so here are some top tips from Mal Creasey (Mountain Training’s recently retired Development Officer) to help you succeed. Without wanting to state the obvious; once you’ve passed your Mountain Leader award you’ll be...

10/04/2014 13:57

Your Stories - Anthony Eccles

I am a qualified Summer ML and SPA and a Geography/Science teacher. It has taken a lot of indecisiveness and time to get where I am but I am glad I pursued what is shaping up to be a fantastic career choice. I started exploring the outdoors while at university where I joined the Mountaineering club which I eventually became the President of. After only a few climbing trips I was hooked. I didn't...

12/02/2014 16:43

Your Stories - Neil Clague

Every Sunday we're featuring someone with a Mountain Training story to tell. I work as a full time professional DJ in the UK and Europe (but that's the night time job). I found a love of climbing about 5 years ago at Awesome Walls in Liverpool and haven't looked back (or down) plus I'm there nearly every day as well. This doesn't mean I'm any good! I just enjoy it and hopefully always bring a...

31/01/2014 12:17

Your Stories - Martin Longmuir

Every Sunday we're featuring someone with a Mountain Training story to tell. My first experience of the hills was back in the summer of 1995. A trip to Loch Muick was to spark the beginning of a lifetime in the hills. I was there with some friends to take a walk round the loch but a change of mind and an urge to go wandering led me and my pal Steve to the summit of Lochanagar. From then on I...

07/02/2014 16:02

Your Stories - Jay Jackson

Every Sunday we're featuring someone with a Mountain Training story to tell. Climbing started for me when it became clear that the rugby pitch was not the place for a non-competetive, mild-mannered and bespectacled eleven-year old. Fortunately a kindly teacher found space for me with another class on the climbing wall, and Games was no longer a thing to be dreaded. I regularly skipped school,...

24/01/2014 10:54

Your Stories - Morna Middleton

Every Sunday we're featuring someone with a Mountain Training story to tell. So, I had a spare week on my hands back in 2003 and opted to go on a multi activity holiday to the Picos mountains in Northern Spain. Something to put me out of my comfort zone! One day we tried climbing! That was IT! I realised I had a small local wall less than 500m from my house at home, so joined upon my return!...

17/01/2014 16:33

Avalanche Rescue and Safety Equipment

Produced 23/1/14 Avalanche rescue and safety equipment of various kinds has been available for many decades. All of it is designed to locate or retrieve someone buried in an avalanche or to keep them near the surface or able to breathe whilst buried. None of this equipment assists with avoiding avalanche hazard. This remains the priority in avalanche education and is a subject that is very well...

17/01/2014 16:22

Your Stories - Ed Boyden

Every Sunday we're featuring someone with a Mountain Training story to tell. I gained a passion for the outdoors while serving in the military and when I left in 2009 I attended the Fast Track course at Plas y Brenin. As well as converting my military qualifications into civilian ones I was very lucky to spend the time with some amazing people and learned a lot of new skills. Since then I have...

09/01/2014 15:22

Disabled Ramblers

The ramble was organised by Terry Taylor, a retired British Mountain Guide who in spite of suffering a stroke some years ago hasn’t lost the urge to explore the limits of what he, and his trusty ‘Tramper’ can achieve. Recent adventures include reaching the summit of Drum in the northern Carneddau, the bottom of Gaping Ghyll in Yorkshire (minus the Tramper on that occasion) and...

11/11/2013 13:35

Climbing Confidence

For some people, it seems they have stacks of motivation and nothing gets them down, they embrace failure and use it to propel themselves to greater effort. But for others, self doubt and negative thinking creep in quickly, discouraging and psyche-sapping even the most committed climber. The good news is that it is possible to change your mental attitude, and its not about standing in front of...

13/08/2013 14:35

Mountain Medicine

On Thursday the 16th May Llanberis MRT (LLMRT) hosted the Mountain Rescue module of the Diploma of Mountain Medicine (DiMM) at their Nant Peris base. This is the 6th year that LLMRT have being involved with delivering this module which not only provides an excellent opportunity for the team to demonstrate mountain rescue teams capabilities it also helps team members keep abreast of developments...

20/05/2013 10:04

Winter ML review 2013

The winter of 2012/2013 has been one of the longest and most memorable for many seasons. After a slow start it began to become increasingly snowier and windier. This helped put down a good snow base albeit with periods of high avalanche risk. After a short but brutal thaw followed by a rapid re-freeze Scotland experienced some of the best climbing conditions for a long time. However these...

22/04/2013 15:47

Website Plugins

If you are have an account on the Mountain Training Candidate Management System there are a few plugins that you can add onto your website to show off your qualifications and show that you are a member. All you need to do is copy the code onto your website that is shown below. If you copy the code below into your website your 'badges' (qualification) will be shown on your website along with your...

01/03/2013 14:55

Hypothermia

Ian Winterburn, Everything Outdoors, a Mountain Leader, fell runner and a member of Woodhead Mountan Rescue Team It is well known that fell runners do not like carrying heavy spare kit. We want to feel free in the elements and be as unencumbered with kit as possible. For most of us keeping cool on a big climb is generally more of a concern than how to keep warm. Red faces and sweaty bodies are...

24/01/2013 12:21

Guidance for Winter ML

The scope of the Winter ML award – from Winter Mountain leader Award Handbook Pg 1 (June 2011 Edition) is defined as: The successful Winter Mountain Leader is validated to lead parties on hill walks within the UK under winter conditions. The award excludes the use of ropes and technical equipment other than required for potential emergency situations. The area and terrain chosen for the...

25/01/2013 11:24

Winter ML Prep

Of all the Mountain Training qualifications, Winter Mountain Leader is one of the more physically and technically challenging. A major part of this is the demands that operating on the winter hills and mountains poses – whiteouts, variable snow conditions, storms and short day light hours all conspire to create one of the most demanding mountaineering environments in the UK. The Winter...

03/12/2012 11:53