Safety & Affiliations

Staff Qualifications

Snowgoose Mountain Centre has policy of only employing professional qualified instructional staff.

All insructors employed hold the appropriate National Governing Body Award (NGB) from the UKMLTB or SMLTB, BCU or SCA or RYA for the activity that is being undertaken.

If we state that an instructor is "fully qualified" that is exactly what we mean.

Snowgoose Mountain Centre is uncompromising its attitude that staff must comply with relevant professional outdoor activity "bench marks". This applies no matter what the age of clients/students - school groups, youth groups, families, outdoor instructors undertaking extra qualifications, adult activity holidays or adult outdoor courses in winter and summer.

Top Quality Instruction

It would be unusual for Snowgoose Mountain Centre to employ staff who did not already have either the Mountaineering Instructors Award (MIA), Mountaineering Instructors Certificate (MIC); British Canoe Union level III Coach (Inland or open Canoe); or relevant Royal Yatching Association Instructor Award.

AMI - John Cuthbertson is an individual member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors.

AMI is the professional organisation of mountaineering instructors in the UK whose aim is to promote good practice in mountaineering instruction.

AALA - Snowgoose Mountain Centre is a licensed provider of specified adventure activities for young people under the age of 18 yrs under the Activity Centres (Young Persons Safety) Act 1995 and the Activities Licensing Regulations 1996.

Registration number L5588 / RO565
The license is effective from 16th July 2005 - 16th July 2007

The specified activities are:-

• Kayaking
• Open Canoeing
• Sailing (Loch Linnhe)
• Rock Climbing
• Abseiling
• Hill Walking & Mountaineering

License details can be confirmed by calling the AALA on 01222 755715

GENERAL SAFETY
A very strong emphasis is placed on safety and self-reliance - as well as having a good time and a bit of fun!  After all,  learning to look after oneself and other people in a group are basic aspects  of safety in any outdoor activity.  For complete beginners, or folks who have done a little we strongly recommend our one day TASTER SESSIONS.

The 2, 3 and 5 day courses are recommended for those who have done an activity and wish to do more.  Whilst courses are aimed primarily at beginners/improvers we have  the facilities and expertise to run much more advanced courses.  Courses can  be tailored to any group's specific requirements.

PEACE OF MIND
Instructors are chosen primarily for their expertise, experience and ability to handle groups in outdoor situations. National outdoor qualifications are required from appropriate National Governing Bodies. As a rule we do not have at least the Mountain Instructors Award or British Canoe Union Senior Instructor (now Level 3 Coach Assessment), Inland, Sea or Canadian plus adequate personal and instructional experience in our area - and of course a sense of fun and adventure.

HIRE
The proprietors reserve the right to refuse a hire or instruction to any one person or group who is/are inadequately equipped or medically unfit.  We do not exclude poor or non-swimmers - but you MUST inform the instructors if you are a poor or non-swimmer.

Equipment is hired out to individuals who  can prove personal competence or qualifications.  The proprietors reserve the  right to withdraw equipment for hire from any persons obviously not having adequate  personal expertise or in unsuitable weather.

PERSONAL GEAR - notes
It is highly likely that you will get wet and cold taking part in outdoor activities. For water activities you must bring changes of comfortable, old, lightweight clothing that is easily dried; shorts, tracksuits  and old pyjama bottoms or thermal long johns for colder weather, t-shirts, two  layers of old thin sweaters, plenty of warm socks, (or two layers of thin ones),  towels, at least a pair of old gym shoes and a woolly hat.  If you have specialised  water sports gear please bring it, ie, wet suits, waterproofs and canoe cagoules etc, but we can provide waterproofs and wetsuits etc.

For mountain activities students are responsible for their own personal mountain  gear, including boots which should be suitable for the area, type of climbing/course and time of year.  Please ask us for advice.  Boots can be hired in Fort William.  Windproof outer clothing (jacket and trousers) are essential all year round,  plus a day sack (for butties and flask), gaiters, if you have them, hat, gloves,  fleece or spare sweater plus torch.  We can provide map and compass, plus any  technical gear.

A middle and/or inner layer of clothing suitable for the time of year and activity are essential - BUT we do not accept clients wearing jeans or 'shell suits' for major mountain  days!  PLEASE DO NOT spend hundreds of pounds on your gear just to visit us for a course - beg,  borrow or..until you are sure this is for you!