Plas y Brenin is managed by The Mountain Training Trust (MTT) on behalf of Sport England. As a registered Charity MTT is committed to ensuring any surplus generated is channelled directly back into mountain sport and providing the best possible opportunities at the most affordable price.
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The Big Winter Climb (24-25 November)
Don’t Feel Like Fool’s With Tools, Get Slick With Your Picks on our' Big Winter Climb'.
We’ve teamed up with our old friends UKClimbing once again to bring you this unique winter weekend event.
Our Big Winter Climb weekend is made up of a series of opt-in workshops covering a diverse range of winter climbing and mountaineering skills and techniques, with something to suit absolutely everyone. It’s a great way to consolidate your existing skills, develop your experience and boost your confidence for the coming rock climbing season.
The ‘experts’ sharing their knowledge and experience are all hand picked top UK climbers. But they won’t be the only ones to learn from. Every minute is an opportunity for discussion and sharing of ideas with other ‘Big Winter Climbers’. This is a unique opportunity not only to be inspired but also to have the chance to question, learn from, drink with and chat to people who have been there and done that. Wherever you plan to climb, you’re sure to find someone who’s been there and who is more than willing to share experiences and lessons learnt.
A programme of interactive workshops and inspirational lectures spans the entire weekend, allowing you to select what topics suit you best from a ‘workshop menu’, ensuring an individually tailored experience.
Supporting the workshops will be the ‘Expert’s Corner’, where you will be able to quiz some of the country's most experienced climbers to make sure you get as much as you possibly can from the weekend.
All of this for just £160, including two nights accommodation, all your food, world class coaching and tuition and guest speaker on Saturday night. Perfect timing in the run up to what is surely going to be the best winter ever, it’s just too good to miss!
Free Goody Bag!
Everyone booking on the Big Winter Climb will now receive a free UKC goody bag with over £100 worth of climbing associated gear in it. Making the Big Winter Climb just too good to miss.
Two nights accommodation, meals, all your workshops and lectures and a bulging UKC goody bag for only £160
Workshops To Choose From On The Big Winter Climb
Below is a list of half day workshops to chooose fro, you'll be able to attend four of these worshops during the Big Winter Climb. There's somehting for everyone, from thenovice winter mounatineer to the experienced winter climber. So take a look, book your place then sign up for the workshops when you arrive.
Hooking & Torqueing
Get to try modern tools and fine tune the subtle art of hooking and torqueing. All whilst getting expert coaching from our experienced staff. Improve your winter mixed climbing skills by climbing on specially set routes on our 15m tower.
Winterise Your Belay
Ideal for those moving up to leading in winter. This is a chance to focus on building safe and effective belays and anchors in the winter environment. Find out what to carry on your winter rack and how to use it!
Whiteout Skills and Avalanche Awareness
A practical insight into how to navigate safely in the winter environment. Its not just about being able to climb – but how to get to your chosen climb efficiently. And then later how to navigate safely back, whilst avoiding any potential avalanche threats.
Schmooling Your Technique
You shouldn't miss the opportunity to use the latest aids for becoming a better winter climber.
Find out how to rest and recover and try new techniques applicable to the winter climber, but all done on the indoor wall.
Guaranteed to get you pumped!
Rescue and Retreat
Climbing in winter can be very serious and committing, but there are a whole bunch of top tips you can learn to make it safer and less daunting. How to escape from routes and belays along with systems to help stuck climbers. Invaluable skills for the budding winter climber.
Winter First Aid
In winter when an accident happens you might have to deal with it. This session covers skills to cope with emergencies you might come across. Delivered by climbers for climbers, this is a must for anyone operating in the hills in winter. Not just emergency procedures but also how to cope and avoid cold injuries and recognising them from the onset.
Dry Tooling
Learn the secrets of scratching, hooking, and digging on covered rock. How to get the best out of your crampons and axes, maybe trying leashless or lanyards along with how to make gear fit with a little help from your picks.
Crampon and Ice Axe Fundamentals
With the aid of Plas y Brenin's special 'glacier zone' we can help you develop your flat footing, front pointing and axe placements. All the skills you need to travel safely on snow and ice covered terrain as well as helpful advice and top tips on which boots, crampons and axes to choose for you.
Book your place on the Big Winter Climb and enjoy two nights accommodation, meals and all your workshops and lectures for only £160
