International Mountain Leader Course
- Dan Goodwin
- Apr 13
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 16
A great week in the sun in North Wales both Jo and I attended our IML (International Mountain Leader) course this week which gets us onto the ladder and a little closer to being able to deliver some programmes in the Alps. It's fair to say that since a child the Alps has played a pretty big role in life for me and so it will be nice to be able to have even more of a reason to be there. This will allow us to be able to offer various summer trekking options along with some winter snowshoe options which we are already in the planning stages. Although while I was living in Kenya the UK voted itself out of the EU which is a bit tricky.
However that will all come after a few more courses and assessments. Certainly the first step which was the summer training course at Plas Y Brenin made for a good start. A really informative and interesting course which laid things out very well in terms of whats expected and what to be thinking about and all the intricacies that have been thrown up by Brexit and legalities of working overseas.
It was week of moving around the North Wales hills looking at various things from rope work, GPS navigation and general leading skills. The other element to this was the speed navigation test which we passed thankfully as that would have been an embarrassing start had that not gone to plan.
Its wasn’t to bad although that said it felt like a test. About two and half hours running around the hills looking for orienteering markers. Certainly worth a practice prior though.
North Wales couldnt have had a nicer weather week with wall to wall sunshine all week.
The next few steps are all Alpine with a summer assessment in the Swiss Alps along with the winter elements to follow. Cant say I'm complaining as we shall have to head to the Alps for further training and assessments. Scotland is first and foremost our base and that will remain so but it will be nice to have some sections of the year dedicated to some Alpine programmes. Stay tuned as we progress through the scheme.
What would this mean we could offer? Unlike the UK the Alpine Climbing, Mountaineering and walking is a legally regulated thing. Guiding into the Alps falls into two categories essentially 'middle mountain' guide and a 'high mountain' guide. Climbing and mountaineering falls under the IFMGA qualification. With the UIMLA its trekking and snow shoeing in the winter. This gives us plenty of scope for some great trips into the Alps in both summer and winter.
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