MASTERCLASS: Winter hillwalking, a glossary
Trai● says Compared to all other seasons, walking the British hills in winter is a completely different ball game. Mountain weather is transformed entirely, specific equipment is needed and a more advanced skill-set is required. And with all that comes a whole new dictionary of terms. Some such hill words specific to winter have little practical use, other than to make yourself sound learned. Others, though, can provide vital meteorological, topographical or technical know-how that can boost your depth of interest in the landscape around you, and even improve your expertise and safety within it. Here’s a selection of wintry mountain terminology every hillwalker should know. ❄✱ Adze The flat, wide end of an ice axe head, opposite the pick, predominately used to cut steps or seats in snow or ice.
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Ba●●i■g Accumulation of clumps of snow under a pair of boots or crampons. Some crampon models feature anti-balling plates to prevent this.
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Cor■ice An overhanging mass of wind-drifted snow over a mountain precipice, ridge crest or other obstacle. These can be hazardous as they are hard to identify, prone to collapsing and can trigger a sizable avalanche.
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G●are In wintery conditions, snow reflects light causing a reflected glare which can cause UV damage to the eyes. Hence sunglasses or goggles can be needed in winter too.
Lee (s●ope) A hill slope sheltered or protected from the wind – an eastern aspect would be on the lee side to a western wind. Conversely, there is the windward side.
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Névé A young, granular type of snow which has partially melted, refrozen and compacted. It offers super secure crampon placement and allows us to skip across the snowpack without sinking in!
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Rime ice Frost formed on cold objects by the rapid freezing of water vapour in cloud or fog. Will ‘grow’ into the direction of wind, which can be useful information for navigation.
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S■ow ●i■e The altitude level or boundary line on a mountain between snow-covered ground and snow-free ground.
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S■ow s●ab One or more cohesive layers of snow on the ground. Useful to indicate the condition of snow and the danger of a potential avalanche.
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Spi■drift Powdery, fine-grained snow being carried by the wind.
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Whiteout A dense blizzard condition in a snow-covered area in which visibility and contrast are severely reduced.
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Wi■d scour A process where wind transports snow away from windward terrain, leaving them scoured with a hard surface.
❄ Verg●as
A very thin coating of ice or frozen rain on an exposed surface. Literally meaning ‘glass-ice’, it is difficult to distinguish from water and thus a very likely hazard for walkers. Also known as black ice.