BASI Mountain Safety

Course Price: £529
This is a 5 day training and assessment course conducted in a mountain environment, with a one day online pre-requisite. 
The objective of the course is to train and assess instructors to lead parties off piste within the ski area boundary - beyond that is the realm of the ISTD or Mountain Guide. Terrain used will be non glaciated with no planned use of the rope, axe or crampons. For full equipment list click here

Practical instruction is given in:

• Equipment selection for off piste use
• Choice of route and leadership techniques
• Use of skins or snowshoes for short uphill sections
• Off piste technique
• Group management and emergency procedures
• Avalanche assessment
• Use of transceivers and navigation

Theory lectures are given on:

• Snow and avalanches
• Navigation
• Mountain weather
• Hypothermia
• Emergencies and responsibilities of a leader

The assessment may be continual through the week however if 2 groups are running together then there may be a swap of trainers for 2 more formal days of assessment at the end of the course. 

Course Price: £459
This is a 4 day training course which progresses on from the BASI Mountain Safety course. It trains the student to lead tours out with the ski area boundary and deal with all the hazards which can be encountered while on day tours. Very little time will be spent revising ISIA material, so come prepared. The course can contain long days on the hill with big ascents carrying a rucksack. It may be necessary to be on steep, exposed terrain. A typical ascent may be up to 1000m. 

For a full equipment and reading list Click Here

Level 4 International Mountain Safety Log Sheet Click Here, for Log Book Guidelines Click Here and for the Log Book Policy Click Here

The course will train candidates in the following: 

Before attending the 3-day assessment courses, students must have completed a minimum of 6 days of quality day-touring where students have been practising the role of leading, decision making and navigation. Map reading, snow profiling, transceiver searching and the use of ropes must already be very competent. This log must be given to the Guide at the commencement of the Level 4 IMS Assessment Course.

Level 4 International Mountain Safety Log Sheet Click Here, for Log Book Guidelines Click Here and for the Log Book Policy Click Here

Students will be able to book onto the Assessment course without having completed the logged days, but proof of these logged days must be given to the Guide on the first night at the welcome meeting. If proof of these logged days is not given to the Guide or are not to a satisfactory standard, they may be allowed to proceed with the course however a deferral will be issued and an admin fee attached to the submission of their logbook. This fee is currently £75.

Course Price: £399
This is a 3 day assessment course which if successful, completes the Level 4 International Mountain Safety. This qualification allows the holder to lead tours consistent with the laws of the country they are in. These tours must not include glacial travel, the planned use of axe, crampons or rope, any multi day excursions (using tents, snow shelters, bivouacs, manned or unmanned mountain huts or bothies), or setting out with the intention of leading a group in poor visibility. It is a three day course which may involve one day using uplift and the other two touring away from the ski area. The tours are big days and may contain up to 1000m of ascent carrying a rucksack. There may also be early starts to make use of winter’s limited daylight and stay safe before the sun warms certain slopes. Ratio 1:4 

You will be assessed in all of the techniques learnt on the training course. There will be a written paper on: 

• Knowledge of safety 
• Off-piste skiing 
• Mountain weather and environment 

Should you fail to meet the standard in an area which can be re-sit in 1 day then you will be invited back for the 1 day. 
Failing that, then a re-sit of the whole assessment may be necessary. If a candidate fails 2 IMS assessments then they will be required to redo the training course.

Important Note: Students will be able to book onto the Assessment course without having completed the logged days, but proof of these logged days must be given to the Guide on the first night at the welcome meeting. If proof of these logged days is not given to the Guide or are not to a satisfactory standard, they may be allowed to proceed with the course however a deferral will be issued and an admin fee attached to the submission of their logbook. This fee is currently £75.