What's What - The BlueDome
guide to outdoor qualifications
The Mountain Leader Award
The
mountains of the UK are remote, technical and exposed to harsh and unpredictable
weather. This makes them a hazardous place for a group of novice mountain
walkers unless they have the benefit of supervision by a well trained
and experienced leader.
During Mountain Leader Award courses you will develop
group management skills, the ability to navigate in all conditions,
gain an understanding of how to deal with mountain hazards and increase
your awareness of environmental issues. There is also an expedition
element to the syllabus.
Before undertaking the ML training course you need
to have a minimum of 12 months mountain walking experience and have
logged at least 20 quality mountain day walks. In addition to this personal
experience, you should have an interest in leading groups in the mountains
of the UK in summer conditions. You may register with the ML scheme
before you have completed 20 mountain days, but you must fulfil this
requirement before attending a training course. Candidates must have
completed a minimum of 40 quality mountain days and have logged some
leadership experience when they attend an assessment.
Registration
You must register before booking onto a training course. To register
you must meet the pre-requirements of 12 months mountain walking experience
and be a minimum of 18 years old and a member of a Mountaineering Council.
Training
Before attending a training course you should have logged a minimum
of 20 mountain walks. Training courses are usually run over 6 days with
a minimum of 60 hours contact time - either consecutive days or over
a series of weekends and evenings. Providers run courses throughout
the mountain areas of the UK at most times of year. If you have an exceptionally
high level of experience you may apply for exemption from the training
course and proceed directly to assessment. To do this you must first
register and tick the exemption application request box on the registration
form. Then submit the exemption application form together with a copy
of your completed logbook and the appropriate fee.
Consolidation
After you have attended a training course you will need to complete
a consolidation period. The exact period of time, personal skill development
and group supervision practice will be different for each candidate.
At the end of your training course you will agree a personal action
plan with your Course Director which will guide you through the consolidation
phase.
Assessment
Your assessor will ask to see your logbook when you book on the course
to check you have completed the ML training course (or successfully
gained exemption from training), satisfied the pre-assessment experience
requirements and have a current first aid certificate. Assessments are
5-6 days long and either continuous or split into two three-day elements.
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