GEAR UP FOR COLD WITHOUT HASSLE OR COST:
How, with a bit of nous, you can watch your wallet while climbing snowy mountains.
Coated in a pristine dusting of snow, it’s during the winter that mountains are often at their most breathtaking. But one of the biggest obstacles many walkers face when it comes to making the most of the hills during the cold season is that of expense. Flick through a gear catalogue or even the review pages of Trail and you could be forgiven for assuming that winter walking requires special winter walking gear and that this kit will cost a small fortune. To be fair, that’s not a wholly inaccurate assumption; but neither is it entirely true. Read on…
Dig out your summer stuff
If you’re a reasonably dedicated hillwalker the rest of the year, the chances are that you’ll already have much of the required gear in your kit cupboard (or garage, or under the bed, or wherever you keep it). The thing about the UK hills is that summer doesn’t necessarily mean good weather. All it really means is that the rain might be warmer (and even that’s not guaranteed). No, being a UK hillwalker means you already own long-sleeved base layers, a mid layer fleece and a waterproof jacket, trousers and gaiters. That’s half your winter kit right there.
Layer up
By its very nature winter will tend to be chillier than other times of the year. But instead of forking out on thick base layers or performance insulation that you may only wear a couple of times a year, stick with your regular hill kit, but use more of it. Wear two base layers, one over the other. Take two fleeces with you and stick them both on if it gets cold. The chances are that keeping warm when you’re moving won’t be a problem, but the beauty of layering is that if you get cold when you stop, you can retrieve some extra layers from your pack and rectify the situation immediately.
Adapt and innovate
You don’t have to buy expensive specialist kit. Certain items – like gloves, hats and socks – you’ll need loads of. In the winter they’ll get wet and cold so you’ll need to carry spares. But just pick up several pairs of cheap wool gloves (buy some that are too big so you can wear them over your normal ones) and for little expense you’ll have enough to last even the longest, coldest day in the hills. And if it’s particularly wet, a pair of those disposable plastic gloves you get at petrol stations double up brilliantly as a waterproof liner between two pairs of woollen gloves for warm, dry hands.
Stick to low ground
Interestingly, the best view of snowtopped mountains may not be from the mountains themselves. If you’re happy to stick to low ground and valleys you may still be treated to phenomenal vistas of the hills without any of the risks involved with climbing them. And, that being the case, the need for any specialist equipment is done away with. A pair of 3-4 season walking boots, sturdy walking poles and – if you feel the need – some strap-on traction devices to give your soles a little extra grip on the ice is all you really need. Plus your regular hillwalking clothing, obviously.
Know your limits
If you’re intent on heading into the snow-clad hills, crampons, an ice axe, and the skills to use them (more about that in a mo) are, we’re afraid, essential. Hiring kit is a good way to save money, particularly if you’re just dipping your toe in the winter walking water. If you do decide to buy, be realistic about what you need. Will you be climbing vertical ice walls? Probably not, so basic walking crampons will be fine. Will you be abseiling off an ice axe anchor? Unlikely, so a ‘B’-rated basic axe is all that’s required – and it will be less pricy than a stronger ‘T’-rated tool.
Invite your mates
Winter in the mountains requires certain skills that, if you don’t already have, you’ll need to learn. A place on a winter skills course is one option, but not necessarily the cheapest. If you have some friends who need to learn the basics too, a more economic option is to club together and hire a qualified Mountain Instructor for a day. If you stay in a hostel (or, if you’re really hardy, a campsite) even accommodation needn’t hit your wallet too hard, meaning you and your pals can learn skills that will last a lifetime for less cash per person than it costs to buy a merino onesie.
So there you have it. Winter walking needn’t be a painfully costly experience. Of course, you may decide that winter is your new favourite season and decide that it’s worth investing in a whole bunch of new kit. After all, everybody likes shiny new stuff. It’s the smell… But that’s not the point. The point is that if you fancy giving the winter hills a go, it’s perfectly possible without a lottery win. And anyway,when you’re standing on the summit of your first winter mountain, the low solstice sun twinkling on the snow-blanketed landscape around you, you’ll appreciate that the best things in life are free.