Want to be a Mountain Leader?
Mountain Skills Pathway
There are several pathways open to those wishing to become a Mountain Leader in Ireland.
Let’s start with the pathway that most will take.
Registration on the Mountain Skills Scheme
Once registered make a note of your MI number and the email used to register.
A common error is that candidates will join Mountaineering Ireland and mistake it for signing up for the MS scheme. They are two separate things.
You do not have to be a member of Mountaineering Ireland to register on the scheme but it is advised, to support MI.
The next step is to sign up for Mountain Skills One where all the fundamental mountain navigation tools are covered. This is a two day course.
Followed by the Mountain Skills Two course, which focuses on contours, night navigation and steep ground. This is also a two day course.
Post the MS training candidates then have to complete and log 14 hikes before signing up for the Mountain Skills Assessment.
Note – Candidates can sign up for the MSA without doing MS1 or MS2 but they must have logged 28 hikes and be navigation competent. While this is an option, if candidates have navigation experience I would still suggest they attend MS2.
The MSA runs over two days and candidates are assessed on the skills covered in MS1/MS2, including night navigation.
Candidates must are also requested to have completed the Remote Emergency Care course before the MSA. Dates on the Scheduled page.
Post MSA the candidate will either have a pass, deferral or fail result.
To advance onto the Mountain Leader Training a pass result is required, be a current member of Mountaineering Ireland and have completed the Remote Emergency Care course.
You must also register on the Mountain Leader scheme with MI – https://www.mountaineering.ie/awardreg/?aid=33
The Irish Mountain Leader pathway is as follows.
Mountain Leader One – two days including one night navigation
Mountain Leader Two – three days including one wild camp and night navigation.
Upon completing ML One training candidates can start their consolidation period.
Upon completing ML Two most candidates will take a minimum of two years to fulfil the consolidation period requirements and gain experience in leadership.
The Mountain Leader Assessment is run by Mountaineering Ireland twice p/year, usually in November and February.
For a list of courses please see the scheduled page.
If the scheduled course dates do not work for you please reach out as I can try to add more – info@hikeandclimb.ie
Happy hiking and see you on the hills.
@HikeandClimb