I delivered a 5-day UIAA certificated Mountain Hill Skills course to 7 Berber Mountain Guides based at the Kasbah du Toubkal and was assisted by helen Menhinick (ML):
1. MOUNTAIN SKILLS SCHEME & REPRESENTATIVE BODIES
a)The role of the UIAA (International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation)
b)The roles of: National Federation and other representative Bodies, the Mountain Training Board, the Trainer
c)Scope of the Mountain Skills Scheme and how it relates to the Mountain Leader course and other awards
d)Volunteer and professional leaders and instructors
2. MOUNTAIN HAZARDS
CLIMATIC HAZARDS:
a)Temperature, precipitation, wind, lightning, humidity and snow
b)Heat exhaustion, heat stroke, dehydration
c)Hypothermia
TOPOGRAPHIC HAZARDS:
a)Steepness, ruggedness, special emphasis on remoteness
b)Reference to falling and drowning in hillwalking situations
c)Ability with reference to terrain and conditions
HUMAN HAZARDS:
a)Health, nutrition and fitness
b)Poor/lack of equipment
c)Poor route choice
3. MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT
a)Access and land ownership
b)Introduction to the mountain environment
c)Responsible recreation
4. MAPS
a)Map scales/symbols/conventional signs
b)Paper and digital maps/history, reliability, suitability, comparison of different scales
c)Terminology and vocabulary of features, e.g., spurs, cols/saddles, tops, valleys, re-entrants, ridges, arêtes, corries and obvious changes of slope
d)Depiction of relief by contours, shading and other symbols and the relationship of these to the land
e)Orienteering maps
f)Grid references
5. NAVIGATION
a)Measuring distances and height gain from the map
b)Measuring distances and height on the ground using timing and pacing
c)Navigational strategies and techniques: aiming off, handrails, attack points
d)Methods of location, cardinal points
e)Feature recognition (distant and near), self-location
f)Navigating using only the map
g)Navigating using both map and compass
h)Theory of navigational tools including Silva-type compass, altimeters and GPS.
i)Map setting by features and compass, following bearings, back-bearings and simple resection.
j)Aspect of slopes and features, (the direction the feature or slope is facing)
k)Re-location techniques and procedures
l)Navigating at night time and in poor visibility
m)Macro-navigation
6. ROUTE PLANNING
a)Route planning: choice of route, route cards, bad weather alternatives and escape routes
b)Guidebooks and other sources of information
7. PERSONAL EQUIPMENT
a)Equipment for hillwalking with reference to weight, bulk, and cost
b)Comparison and contrast of: footwear, outer clothing, headgear, gloves, middle layer garments, base layers
c)Bivouac bags, bivouac tents, blizzard bags and group shelters
d)Rucksacks, torches, care of maps, whistle and other emergency signalling devices
e)First aid kits
f)Additional equipment for winter conditions
8. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
a)Procedure in event of an accident
b)Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mountain weather related issues: heat exhaustion, heat stroke and hypothermia
c)Treatment of physical injuries and illnesses
d)Mountain rescue organisations and call out procedures
e)Medvac procedures
9. MOVEMENT ON STEEPER TERRAIN AND BROKEN GROUND
a)Movement skills and technique
b)Safe movement in ascent, descent and traversing
c)Exploration of steeper terrain to develop experience and awareness of: personal ability and limitations, hazards and objective dangers
d)Route finding, route choice, hazard avoidance
e)Environmental considerations: damage to vegetation, sensitive species
f)The effect of steeper terrain on timing, pacing and route selection
