Association of Mountaineering Instructors - CPD

I'm Kath James and I run Mountain Expertise. I hold the Winter Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor qualification, formerly the MIC and International Mountain Leader. I have worked at Plas y Brenin, the national mountain centre since 2010, my work there involved running schools, skills and Mountain Training Courses. I am a course director for a variety of Mountain Training course including MCI courses, and have expereince of work in both summer and winter. During my years at Plas y Brenin I have worked many MCI training and assessment courses, this puts me in an ideal place to support those on the MCI scheme in their consolidation period, and beyond. My expereince as a mentor to other instructors and in running the MCi and Winter departments has given me a great insight into how to support people in there development journeys within mountaineering and climbing instruction.As a keen rock climber the draw of the sea cliffs on Anglesey and the easy access cragging in Snowdonia make this a great place to live. I have climbed all over the world, highlights include; North face of the Eiger, Big Walls in Yosemite, 4000m summits in the Alps, adventure climbing in Jordan and expedition climbing in Kenya. I have spent numerous winters in Scotland enjoying the more remote regions of the north west highlands, as well as spending plenty of time in the Cairngorms and around Ben Nevis ice and mixed climbing and winter mountaineering. I have also spent time ski mountaineering in the Alps and Morocco!I started out helping with School mountineering trips, and whilst studying Geography at The University of Aberstwyth got more into climbing. At the end of the 3 years I headed to north Wales to be a Centre Assistant at Plas y Brenin, and so my career as an instructor began. After 15 months being immersed in climbing and instructing I worked as a freelancer, and then as an Instructor at the Kent Mountain Centre in Llanberis, followed by Ogwen Cottage.With this vital experience under my belt I then headed back to Plas y Brenin as an instrutor and then a senior instructor. I am currently working part time at Plas y Brenin and part time for myself and bringing up my family.