Practical introduction to winter hiking - 14 Feb
14-17 February 2025
Winter ascent of Scottish Mountains, Hiking up gullies usually inaccessible in summer! - This trip ticks almost all winter mountaineering boxes...
No prior winter mountaineering experience is required and full instruction will be provided on the use of the equipment and the skills required to keep safe in the winter environment
whether you are new to winter mountaineering, or just want to get away for the week, this trip will cover everything you need to get your winter mountaineering fix and full instruction will be provided in order to stay as safe as possible in the mountains
Covered on the trip will include:
- General Safety (pre-trip planning, in-trip planning and risk mitigating)
- Weather awareness
- Avalanche awareness
- Safe use of crampons and ice axe
- Movement techniques on snow and ice
- Ice Axe arrest (the use of you ice axe if you were to fall and slide down a slope - don't worry, this is done in a safe area and is a lot of fun!
- Constructing and using show anchors
- Building an emergency shelter in the snow
- Reach the summit of at least one Munro (Scottish mountain) in full winter conditions
Friday (from 8pm) - Meet outside London Euston train station and board the Caledonian Sleeper train for an overnight journey to Aviemore (option of having an airpline-style seat)
Saturday - Meet your guide for breakfast when your train arrives in to in Aviemore at 7:30am before heading out for a day of journeying through the winter wilderness, learning appropriate techniques in order to stay safe.
You will hike to the snow/ice line for an introduction to the winter environment, an introduction/revision of ice axe/cramponing skills and the style of mountaineering required for a winter ascent.
At the end of the day you will check-in to your accommodation for a warm shower before heading out to a local pub for some hearty food and drinks while discussing other things for consideration when approaching the mountains in a winter environment (e.g. weather forecasting, route planning, avalanche awareness and risk mitigation)
Sunday - An early start in order to give you as much time on the mountain as possible. After breakfast you will have another trip briefing and safety discussion before heading out to put all of your new skills to the test as you head to the summit of a local mountain (The specific route we take will depend on group ability and ground/weather conditions).
You will end the day in an Aviemore pub for dinner with your guide so you can ask any yearning questions you have about hiking in the winter environment.
You will then board the Caledonian Sleeper train at 9pm for a relaxing jounrey back to London
Monday - The Caledonian Sleeper train will arive at London Euston around 8am on Monday
