Do it this month
Get set for winter walking
The peaks are cloaked in white. Streams are frozen into silence. A thick blanket of snow deadens sound and purifies the landscape. What could be better than walking in this winter wonderland? Only, it’s not that straightforward. When winter visits the mountains it brings with it a host of challenges and potential dangers. While experience is a great tutor, it’s also a risky one – winter is not a time to rely on learning from your mistakes. A far better path to follow is to take a proper Mountain Skills course with a reputable provider; the classified section of this magazine, the Mountain Training website, or the Plas y Brenin and Glenmore Lodge mountain and outdoor centres are good places to start. There you’ll learn about the key hazards, how to spot them, and how to avoid them. You’ll be introduced to winter-specific tools and equipment, like ice axes and crampons, and be taught how to use them effectively. More importantly, you’ll get time in the mountains and a chance to practise your skills under expert supervision and tuition. Even if you’ve spent a winter or two in the hills but feel your crampon work could use a little improvement or your ice axe arrests aren’t as sharp as they should be, a Winter Skills course is the ideal way to reacquaint yourself with the techniques. And if you’re new to the winter mountains, a Winter Skills course can set you on the way to a lifetime of adventure unhindered by the changing of the seasons.