Mountain Skills Assessment

 180.00

Wicklow Mountains National Park

This Assessment involves:

Map-reading
Navigation techniques, day and night
Compass techniques
Route planning
Managing hazards
Emergency equipment and procedures

Clear selection

Description

Our Nationally Accredited Mountain Skills Assessment will test your personal hiking skills.  The assessment is suitable for anyone wishing to advance their navigational skills or anyone planning to enroll in the Mountain Leader Award.

What is involved in a Mountain Skills Assessment?

After you complete your training a period of consolidation is required. This time frame is generally used to practice the skills learned over the training and to log hikes, in your official logbook. If you don’t have a logbook please contact us and we can supply you with one.

A minimum of 14 walks in a number of different mountain areas of Ireland should be recorded.

The hikes should meet the following criteria:

  • To take place in a recognised hill/mountain environment of Ireland or the UK
  • The candidate should have personally played an active part in organising and implementing the day
  • The route should not solely follow a way-marked way or path.
  • Should provide an opportunity to use relevant skills learned through training
  • Be a minimum of four hours duration
  • Not a repeat of an already logged walk.

The Mountain Skills Assessment is held over two days, and comprises both written and practical evaluation, including a night navigation exercise, please read over the course material before taking an assessment.

A valid outdoor first aid certificate is also required, full details of which can be found in the syllabus documentation here

Assessment can again be arranged for groups and individuals. The ratio for assessments is one assessor to four candidates.

The MSA is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your knowledge and personal ability of the basic hiking skills required for a safe and enjoyable journey within the hills of Ireland and the UK. Although set as an assessment process with a pass/deferral/fail result, it should also encompass an opportunity for further learning.

 

Additional information

Dates

January 28th-29th 2023

Instructors

All our instructors are experienced, qualified, registered and insured.

Duration

2 full days, day into night, you will be on the mountains in the dark

What to bring

Waterproof Jacket and trousers, hill walking boots, walking trousers/tracksuit bottoms/leggings (avoid cotton) base layer- top/tee shirt/fleece, take a spare if you feel the cold, mid layer- fleece, hat and gloves and backpack. Essential: Head torch

Food

You are required to being a packed lunch and drink for each day.

Equipment

You will require a map, a Silva Type 4 compass and head torch, details on booking

First Aid

You will need a REC2, Wilderness First Aid cert, or equivalent for this assessment.

Fitness

A general level of fitness s required as this is an active assessment.