News from West Coast Mountain Guides

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Last Minute mountain holiday

Mountain Matters

Greetings!Welcome to an occasional newsletter from West Coast Mountain Guides, highlighting news, views and opportunities for mountain adventures. This newsletter is being sent to anyone who has contacted me asking for advise on courses. mountain guiding or mountain matters over recent years. Please feel free to unsubscribe if you wish and the link for that can be found at the foot of this newsletter. However, I do hope that the content will prove interesting and encourage you to continue to look out for the West Coast Mountain Guides news. As a keen photographer I hope to inspire you with some good images. Many more photos and stories can be found at the West Coast Mountain Guides Blog Should you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch via email and I will include your queries and hopefully some sensible answers in future newsletters. Guest testimonials on our home page are worth considering if you need some positive feedback about our courses. West Coast Mountain Guides.

Last Minute Bookings - January
More and more these days, folk are making last minute bookings, which can lead to undersubscribed courses. As I never cancel courses due to a lack of interest, here are some upcoming dates which need more folk:

January 3/7th Winter Mountaineering
January 3/7th Winter Climbing intro
January 23/27th Winter Mountaineering

All other courses as shown on the website are still available for booking. Those shown above are in need of extra guests.

We have had a great start to the winter and I'm hopeful it will be as good as last year. Fingers crossed.

Accommodation in Fort William
Our accommodation prices for 2011 are remaining the same as this year. Check out Fort William Holiday

Gear Hire
Even if you are not staying with us or attending a course we offer Equipment Hire
and use of the Bouldering Wall

Meetings and Lectures
Our facilities extend to a small lecture room seating up to fifteen people. A digital projector and screen is available and a wide selection of mountain DVD's and Videos. The whole place is connected for WiFi

Feedback

You can find details of what some of our guests think about the courses on the new website and the self-catering at Accommodation Feedback Please feel free to leave a comment about the accommodation if you have used it.

FAQ

Brief details of frequently asked questions can be found at FAQ

Sponsors - Helpful Retailers - Good GearAn important area of an outdoor instructor/guides work is keeping up to date with equipment in order to be able to answer a wide range of questions about mountaineering kit. In the ever changing world of equipment this is difficult and that is where some good outdoor manufacturers and retailers come in. There are many and varied outdoor shops and I cannot hope to know all of them. However a few come to mind as being very helpful to our mountain visitors over the years. Some clients have driven many miles of a weekend to get good sound advice and here is a small selection.

Paramo Manufacturers of the best shell clothing I have ever used in 40 years of mountaineering.

Barkers of Ringwood For anyone living in southern England Steve Barker will give them good sound advice, especially on footwear

Ardblair Mountain Sports In particular for AKU footwear which were recommended to me by Steve Barker. If any of you have seen my awkward feet you will know that to find a comfortable pair of boots is not easy for me. The AKU Spider and Spider Lights are very light, warm and comfortable. The Spider is very good for the Alps in my opinion.

Any good pair of boots will be enhanced by proper insoles and I'm convinced that Superfeet Footbeds really help. Go for the custom fit insoles. They may be expensive, but are a good investment towards comfort and stabilisation of the whole body frame.

Needlesports will be well known to anyone visiting the Lake District. Once again sound advice from passionate outdoor folk.

914 Outdoor is worth a visit for anyone on their way to the Isle of Skye, especially as the view towards Eilean Donan Castle in one direction and the Black Cuillin to the west is stunning. Friendly advice and a chance to pick up some last minute kit.

Cioch-Direct on the Isle of Skye made to measure Paramo outdoor clothing is very close to where Norman Collie and John Mackenzie are laid to rest. There is also a good spot over the road for tea and scones.

Mac Mountaineering If you land up in Inverness and prefer an old style independent shop instead of the larger apartment store layout.

Mountain Spirit A very good place for getting your Superfeet, custom-fit insoles sorted by Rob, the very knowledgeable and friendly owner, in the heart of the Cairngorm National Park

Freetime for online or when passing through Carlisle.

Aiguille Equipment are my first choice for rucsacs. No fancy straps. Just simple, comfortable and hard-wearing. Currently I'm using the Zenith for both Scotland and the Alps.

Alan Kimber
West Coast Mountain Guides

Alan Kimber, Director of West Coast Mountain Guides is a member of these associations and licenced to offer mountain activities with AALA. Forty years of mountain experience backs up these qualifications.