In becoming an IML you will frequently encounter the term QMD. Quality days are the metric by which your independently gained ‘logged’ experience is measured to ensure you have sufficient breadth and depth of experience to gain the most from the process. Indeed the criteria changes depending on which type of QMD you are talking about so read on to get the lowdown. Different stages of the award progression require different QMDs and there are four you need to be aware of, it is worth knowing in advance so you can make headway into that logbook sooner rather than later too:
- Quality Mountain Day
- Winter Quality Mountain Day
- International Summer Quality Mountain Day
- International Winter Quality Mountain Day
Quality Mountain Day
A ‘Quality Mountain Day’ for the Mountain Leader should take place in mountainous terrain in the UK or Ireland.
The quality element lies in such things as the conditions experienced both overhead and underfoot, the exploration of new areas, the terrain covered, the skills deployed and the physical and mental challenge. The experience of a quality day should contribute to knowledge, personal development and associated skill acquisition.
All the following criteria should be fulfilled:
- The individual takes part in the planning and leadership.
- An unfamiliar locality is explored.
- A mountain is ascended.
- Navigation skills are required.
- Knowledge is increased and relevant skills practised.
- Judgement and decision making is required.
- Five hours or more journey time.
These criteria mean that days as a course member under instruction, a member of a group practising skills, or days spent repeating familiar routes are very unlikely to meet the requirements of a quality day.
Winter Quality Mountain Day
As with ‘summer’ quality mountain days, the quality of a winter QMD lies in such things as the conditions experienced both overhead and underfoot, the exploration of new areas, the terrain covered, the skills deployed and the physical and mental challenge. They are more demanding than a ‘summer’ QMD as candidates continue to develop their experience, fitness, technical competence and decision-making skills while simultaneously dealing with winter weather and conditions.
The Scottish Highlands in winter conditions present a wide variety of hazards that need to be managed and the physical effort required to complete a winter quality mountain day is substantial. Other areas such as North Wales, the Lakes and Ireland have winter conditions, but you are often never that far from a road or habitation offering a fast and comparatively easy escape from the mountains. That is not always the case in the Scottish Highlands which is why at assessment, 50% of the minimum required number of winter QMDs must be in Scotland.
All the following criteria should be fulfilled:
- The individual takes part in the planning and leadership.
- Navigation skills are required away from marked/well used paths.
- Experience must be in terrain and weather comparable to that found in UK and Irish mountainous terrain.
- Knowledge is increased and skills practised.
- Attention is paid to safety.
- The journey is five hours or more.
- Conditions encountered should be in terrain and weather comparable to that found in the UK and Ireland in true winter conditions.
- Ascent of a substantial peak would normally be included in the day.
- An ice axe and crampons are likely to be required.
These criteria mean that days as a course member under instruction, practising winter skills, or summer days in Alpine areas are very unlikely to meet the requirements of a Winter Quality Mountain Day. However, these days can be recorded in the appropriate place in your logbook even though they are not suitable for registration purposes.
International Summer Quality Mountain Day
A quality international summer mountain day should be a mountain day outside of the UK and Ireland and include more than half of the following criteria:
- In an environment below 3000 metres, the day should include a height gain of approximately 1000 metres
- In an environment above 3000 metres the day should include a height gain of approximately 300 metres
- A journey of a minimum of five hours
- Navigational skills should be used including the use of a map, compass, altimeter or GPS
- Decision-making about route choice and judgement of terrain
- Planning involving the use of a weather forecast
- Ascending and/or descending steep broken ground
- Negotiating sections of fixed equipment and/or small sections of snow as part of the normal mountain journey
- Appreciating the environment and increasing one’s environmental knowledge
International Winter Quality Mountain Day
A quality international winter mountain day should be a mountain day outside of the UK and Ireland, and include more than half of the following criteria:
- Must involve movement and travel on snow
- Must include ascent and/or descent
- A journey of a minimum of five hours
- Planning involving the use of weather and avalanche forecasts
- Navigational skills should be used, including the use of a map, compass, altimeter or GPS
- Making progress in poor or worsening weather conditions
- Decision-making about route choice and judgement of terrain
- Evaluating the snowpack and avalanche hazard throughout the day and making ongoing decisions based on these
- Appreciating the winter environment and increasing one’s environmental knowledge
Summer Alpine conditions on snowy terrain will not normally qualify as fulfilling enough of these criteria, apart from in exceptionally bad weather conditions.