Structured Online Mountain Skills Courses

The MSO Library is always growing and ALL of these courses below are included with your monthly or annual subscriptions.

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Trad Climbing Course

Take your climbing skills to the next level with our Trad (Traditional) Climbing Course, designed for adventurous climbers looking to move beyond sport climbing. This course teaches you how to safely place gear, assess anchors, and climb multi-pitch routes with confidence.

The lead coaches for this course are:-

Libby Peters — IFMGA Mountain Guide, Mountaineering Instructor & Author

Dave Rudkin — IFMGA Mountain & Ski Guide and Mountaineering Instructor

Through a combination of step-by-step video lessons, practical exercises, and expert feedback, you’ll learn:

Proper placement of nuts, cams, and other protection

Building secure anchors and belays

Route reading and risk assessment

Rope management and efficient movement on multi-pitch climbs

Essential safety and rescue techniques

Whether you’re training for your first trad routes or aiming to refine your skills for more challenging climbs, this course gives you the knowledge, techniques, and confidence to develop the knowledge, techniques and judgement to make sound decisions on the crag.

All lessons are designed for flexible learning, allowing you to study at your own pace, practice in the climbing gym or on the crag, and upload videos for instructor feedback.

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Scrambling Course

Learn to move confidently over exposed, rocky terrain with our Scrambling Course, designed for climbers and hikers who want to tackle steep, rugged terrain where ropes are not normally used. This course teaches you how to assess terrain, choose secure handholds and footholds, and manage risk in alpine and mountainous environments.

Through step-by-step video lessons, practical exercises, and expert feedback, you’ll develop skills including:

Techniques for moving efficiently over mixed rock and mountain terrain

Assessing route safety and managing exposure

Using hands, feet, and basic climbing techniques effectively

Understanding mountain hazards and how to mitigate them

Building confidence on more challenging scrambles

Whether you’re aiming to confidently tackle your first alpine ridge or improve your ability on more technical terrain, this course equips you with the knowledge and skills to scramble safely and enjoyably.

Lessons are designed for flexible learning, allowing you to study at your own pace, practice on local crags or mountains, and upload videos for instructor feedback.

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Core Mountain Skills Course

The Core Skills Area provides essential skills and techniques that form the foundation for all our climbing, scrambling, and mountaineering courses. These lessons are designed once, so you won’t find them repeated across other courses, but they are relevant wherever those skills are needed.

Through step-by-step video lessons, practical exercises, and expert guidance, you’ll learn key skills including:

Correctly fitting helmets, harnesses, and other climbing gear

Choosing and understanding the right ropes and slings

Efficient rope coiling, handling, and storage

Basic knot-tying and safety checks

Equipment preparation and management across a range of activities

This area is ideal for climbers, mountaineers, and scramblers who want a solid foundation in essential gear and rope skills before progressing to more advanced techniques in other courses.

Mountain Navigation Course

(Landing in your MSO Library October 2026)

Master the essential skills to navigate safely and confidently in the mountains with our Mountain Navigation Course, designed for both summer and winter conditions. Whether you’re planning a summer ridge walk or a winter snow-covered route, this course teaches you how to read the terrain, interpret maps, and use a compass and GPS effectively.

Through step-by-step video lessons, practical exercises, and expert feedback, you’ll learn:

Map reading and compass skills for precise navigation

Route planning and terrain assessment

Navigating in poor visibility, including fog, snow, and low light

Winter navigation techniques, including using GPS, tracks, and natural features

Safety strategies and risk management when traveling in remote terrain

This course is ideal for hikers, climbers, and mountaineers who want to move confidently across mountains in any season, enhancing both safety and enjoyment.

Lessons are designed for flexible learning, allowing you to study at your own pace, practice in the field, and upload videos or questions for instructor feedback.

Tom

“Mountain Skills Online’s Trad Climbing course has given me the confidence to develop my skills and understand the process properly, from equipment choices and techniques through to building a better awareness of safety and decision-making. The teaching is clear, detailed and delivered by people with genuine experience. It feels like having an experienced climbing partner guiding you through each step.”

Alex

“The Scrambling course has been brilliant for building my confidence in the mountains. It breaks down the skills, techniques and thought processes needed to tackle more challenging terrain safely, while keeping everything practical and easy to understand. The real-world examples make it much easier to apply what you learn when you’re out on the hills.”

Lisa

“The quality of Mountain Skills Online is exceptional. The production value, from the filming and audio to the attention to detail in every lesson, really sets it apart. It’s clear that a huge amount of thought and experience has gone into creating something that is not just informative, but genuinely enjoyable to learn from.”

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