mountaineering and cimbing instructor (mci) enhancer
...teaching is only demonstrating that it is possible - learning is making it possible for yourself...
These MCI enhancement courses correlate directly to the MCI Award syllabus (formerly Mountaineering Instructor Award) and offer opportunity for aspirants to consolidate their learning prior to assessment, or gain valuable input before attending a re-assessment. Fully qualified individuals are also more than welcome to attend if they wish to refresh their skills and stay current with best practices. These courses, primarily based in Snowdonia, are staffed with Mountaineering and Climbing Instructors, Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructors, or British Mountain Guides, and will run from 8:45am til 5pm, unless stated otherwise.
Open courses will run with 2 or more candidates and private courses can are bespoke and can run on a date that suits you. Recommendations and advice for accommodation can be found at the bottom of this page. Meeting places will be confirmed at the time of booking. Typically the ratio of instructors to participants is 1:4 or less. If you are a larger group than 4, and/or an individual or group who wish to have an course run in your area, then please Get In Contact to discuss your aspirations.
Open courses will run with 2 or more candidates and private courses can are bespoke and can run on a date that suits you. Recommendations and advice for accommodation can be found at the bottom of this page. Meeting places will be confirmed at the time of booking. Typically the ratio of instructors to participants is 1:4 or less. If you are a larger group than 4, and/or an individual or group who wish to have an course run in your area, then please Get In Contact to discuss your aspirations.
Guiding Climbs
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Operating within your comfort zone whilst guiding multi-pitch climbs is crucial to working as a competent and safe MCI. This course focuses on honing your personal climbing and guiding skills, ensuring you can efficiently swing leads with a partner or safely take two people climbing, without kicking out runners or getting into tangles. You should be confident climbing VS-E1 (or above), although you will not be expected to lead at this grade if at all uncomfortable - we can still cover plenty of skills in easier terrain.
✓ Effective climbing as a pair, stance management and slick change-overs ✓ Guiding two climbers safely, avoiding tangles, and tips & tricks |
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Title:
Guiding Climbs Guiding Climbs 2-day 1:1 Private tuition Private group tuition |
Dates:
Dates on demand Dates on demand Please state preferred dates Please state preferred dates |
Spaces:
2 2 1 2 |
Price:
£175 £170 £300p/d £160p/d |
Ratio:
1:2 1:2 1:1 1:2 |
rescue jedi
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Some say there is no such thing as 'improvised rescue', instead just careful and considered deployment of set pieces. Either way, knowing which technique to employ and when, and being able to do a lot with a little, is what being a Rescue Jedi is all about. Simple hoists, complex traverses, or crag evacuation, there is no scenario we cannot solve during this day. It's up to you as to what we choose, and after today you will know it inside-out.
✓ Anticipating and avoiding problems, and finding simple, fast solutions ✓ Basic to complex scenarios, guaranteeing further depth of knowledge ✓ FREE document containing a step-by-step guide for every rescue covered |
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Title:
Rescue Jedi Rescue Jedi 2-day 1:1 Private tuition Private group tuition |
Dates:
Dates on demand Dates on demand Please state preferred dates Please state preferred dates |
Spaces:
2 2 1 2 |
Price:
£175 £170 £300p/d £160p/d |
Ratio:
1:2 1:2 1:1 1:2 |
SHORTENING THE ROPE
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Being steady, safe and slick, in complex terrain; Judging when, and when not, to shorten the rope. For many, these are the most complex aspects of the MCI award, however, when managed well, scrambling can be the most rewarding way to move through the mountains. This day guarantees to further your confidence and skillset, and provide you with robust rules for making effective short-roping, short-pitching and general mountaineering decisions.
✓ Variety of grade 1-3 terrain, up and down, requiring all styles of ropework ✓ Robust rules for being steady, safe and slick, and refining judgements ✓ Feedback on current skills and an action plan for moving forwards |
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Title:
Shortening the Rope Shortening the Rope 2-day 1:1 Private tuition Private group tuition |
Dates:
Dates on demand Dates on demand Please state preferred dates Please state preferred dates |
Spaces:
2 2 1 2 |
Price:
£175 £170 £300p/d £160p/d |
Ratio:
1:2 1:2 1:1 1:2 |
teaching climbing
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Instructor, Coach, Guide... What about teacher ? To teach, you not only have to know what to teach, but also when, how, why and to who. Balancing these elements is hard, yet rewarding. MCI's need to not only be a safe role model, but they also need to work well with their student, and the environment, for learning to take place. Safety, and avoiding twists, are mere basics at this stage.
✓ Finding out what to teach, profiling students and assessing their needs ✓ Venue, route selection and making best use of the environment ✓ Getting the basics right, painting a clear picture, progressing naturally ✓ Less talking, more doing - limiting the information overload |
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Title:
Teaching Climbing Teaching Climbing 2-day 1:1 Private tuition Private group tuition |
Dates:
Dates on demand Dates on demand Please state preferred dates Please state preferred dates |
Spaces:
2 2 1 2 |
Price:
£175 £170 £300p/d £160p/d |
Ratio:
1:2 1:2 1:1 1:2 |
expert navigator
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MCI's navigate efficiently and effectively to their location, every time. As an expert, you are seen to be the one who can demystify the dark art; When it comes to teaching others, there is little to no room for error. This course offers a chance to strip your navigation back to basics, focus on simple, reliable and effective techniques, and learn how to get it right every time. We will look at selecting the right tool every time, and methods for teaching navigation.
✓ Variety of map scales with varying amounts of information ✓ Perfecting your techniques and structuring a teaching session ✓ Mock test and MCI-level points to go away with and practice |
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Title:
Expert Navigator 1:1 Private tuition 1:4 Private group tuition |
Dates:
Dates on demand Please select preferred dates Please select preferred dates |
Spaces:
4 1 4 |
Price:
£70 £275 £65 |
Ratio:
1:4 1:1 1:4 |
- What is included in the price?
Instruction at the above ratios, tea/coffee at the start of the course, all non-personal specialist equipment such as ropes and climbing hardware, all emergency first aid equipment, and additional maps and teaching resources, where appropriate. - What is not included in the price?
Accommodation, food and drink for the day, personal insurance and personal equipment (unless stated otherwise). - What is the minimum number of participants required to ensure my course runs?
2 for all of the above courses at a 1:2 and 1:4 ratio. And, with fear of being obvious, 1 for 1:1 private bookings! - Who will staff my course?
Your course will be staffed by me or another fully qualified and experienced mountaineering and climbing instructor (MCI), winter mountaineering and climbing instructor (WMCI), or a British mountain guide (BMG). - Can I hire walking boots and/or climbing shoes from you?
No, sorry. Because of vastly different shoe sizes from person to person, I do not stock a large range. However, there are numerous shops and hire services available in the local area to your course, or you can Get In Contact if you need any more help acquiring a pair. - Can I hire a rucksack from you?
Yes, please arrange this at the time of booking. Rucksacks cost £20 per person, per day. A deposit of £75 to cover any damage or soiling of the materials is required. - Can I bring along my own helmet, harness, ropes and climbing hardware to use or ask questions about?
Yes of course, however this equipment will be thoroughly checked by me or another member of staff before it is deemed suitable for use. - Where can I stay?
There are a variety of options in Snowdonia, to suit everybody's tastes and budgets. There are many more options than the ones suggested below, and of the options suggested below, all operate independently from me:
Hostels - Plas Curig; YHA Pen-Y-Pass; Snowdonia Mountain Hostel.
Campsites - Bryn Llys; Gwynant campsite; Llanberis campsite; Gwern Gof Isaf; Gwern Gof Uchaf.
B&Bs - Glyn Peris; Snowdon View; The Ferns Guesthouse; 'Air BnB' options are also available. - What kit do I need to bring?
For all of the above courses, you may be out in the mountains all day, and therefore will require the following:
1. Warm clothing, including suitable hats, gloves and sunglasses where appropriate
2. Waterproof jacket and waterproof trousers
3. Walking boots or 'approach shoes' where appropriate
4. Food, drink and personal medication
5. Small personal first aid kit, if required (to include things like blister plasters, suncream)
6. Mobile phone and whistle
7. Personal walking poles
8. Personal climbing shoes and any climbing hardware you own, such as a belay plate or karabiners (not required for 'Expert Navigator')
9. Personal helmet and harness and chalk bag (not required for 'Expert Navigator')
10. Compass (Silva Type 4 recommended) (only required for 'Expert Navigator' and 'Shortening the Rope')
11. Waterproof map of the area (OL17 - OS Explorer Active Map Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa recommended), or a non-waterproof map of the area (OL17 - OS Explorer Map Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa) and a waterproof map case (only required for 'Expert Navigator' and 'Shortening the Rope')
12. Head torch and spare batteries
13. Rucksack (30L minimum recommended) and waterproof liner
Have a question about something else? Try the Frequently Asked Questions page.
"I've spent a handful of days out with Alex, looking at enhancing my skills towards my MCI assessment. I can confidently say that these days have been hugely beneficial. Alex really has demystified some of the complexities of multi-pitch climbing. Alex has given me clarity, along with providing workable and repeatable processes that I can go away with and practice easily. These methods, along with Alex's supportive nature, have given me loads more confidence to go out and practice with real 'clients', and I feel like I am much further along the road to assessment for spending time with him. Thanks!"
D. Macintyre (MCI consolidation, 2019, 2020)
D. Macintyre (MCI consolidation, 2019, 2020)
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