Winter Skills Weekend in Scotland…
Peter and Stuart had made the long journey from Northern Ireland and Darren had travelled from South Wales for our Winter Skills Weekend Course in Scotland this weekend – and man were they treated to some ‘proper’ Scottish weather!
It was one of those weekends that you really should spend in a cafe, but that meanrt there was lots of learning to be had – mostly won the hard way! The guys were sceptical when they arrived the night before, that there would be any snow or ice around at all – how wrong they were! From the valley all they could see was rain, the soggy lower slopes of the hills, and the trees buckling in the wind… They were soon to realise what a different world it was up there in the mountains!
Given the strong (70mph gusts) winds that had created a considerable avalanche potential, the team came to the conclusion that Buchaille Etive Beag would give them a safer day out, despite being exposed to the winds. I’m a big believer in giving my clients the skills to make their own decisions to keep them safe in the hills. So into the wind we went!
Winter Skills Weekend in Scotland
The route itself was just as we had expected, being safe from an avalanche point of view, but a bit breezy , and we found some nice slopes to practise moving with our ice axes to keep us safe. Whilst heading to the summit, on several occasions the wind put us all on our knees, and in the end the team made the prudent decision to turn back just before the top, given the high and uncontrollable risk of the wind knocking one of us over and leaving us incapacitated! The day was a real eye opener to the guys, and they remarked that they really had no idea the conditions could be like that up there, but a great day out looking at navigation, snow-craft and making sensible choices.
After a planning session involving the weather forecast, the avalanche forecast and the map, we opted to spend the next day focussing on micro-navigation on the far east side of Sron Gharbh. We reasoned this would give us shelter from the majority of the westerly wind, and be low enough we could manage the avalanche risk safely, plus had some great features to practise compass bearings, pacing, timing and contour interpretation. It made for a fantastic day, and the choice paid off, as the winds were less forceful than the day before, and we looked at loads of the navigation skills the guys were keen to develop.
Poor weather navigation coaching…
The chaps deserve a massive amount of the credit for making the weekend so fun and successful, a lesser team may have buckled! They learnt heaps and even enjoyed the ‘proper’ Scottish conditions!
