I just stick to the easy routes in winter. I try to avoid steep slopes that can hold a lot of snow. I also learned last winter that any route that mentions even an easy scramble I should avoid (more becuase I walk by myself) I pay attention to the mountain weather and avalanche forecast.
You wouldn't believe what you'll see on certain popular hills in winter - anything goes. I did Schiehallion back at the beginning of February (very popular hill) and it was nuts. Was a beautiful day, you were walking on snow 15 minutes from the car park, clear blue skies and no wind. But looking at the hill I could see there was a cloud and bit of white haze around the summit. I figured it might be a bit breezy up on the top.
The car park was full, cars parked down the road and all over the place, the hill was jumping, though the upper reaches of the hill were much quieter, most folks turned back.
I saw guys in jeans, a fella with a massive camera backpack and tri-pod who said he was heading for the top, though the look on his pissed off girl friend suggested otherwise. Two young ladies with matching pink handbags and pink wellies. I bumped into three guys wearing parka jackets, combat trousers and drinking cans of cider and guinness on the summit, one of them was complaining that his boot kept coming off, and he has his sock off to empty the snow out of it! Wasn't too bad when I was on the summit, but on leaving the wind kicked up, the kind off wind you can lean into and it'll hold you up. The spin drift can really cut into you, popped on my cheap ski goggles and saw the three lads running past me a full tilt perhaps in fear of their lives! I watched em run doon the hill a bit and saw one fella go head over heel and a boot flying off up into the air. Bet he froze that foot and I'll bet it hurt thawing out. Couldn't get a shot of em as my camera had frozen at that point, warmed it up inside my jacket.
Was walking on snow and ice two weeks ago on Aonach Beag and Mor (was over 4000 feet though), absolutely perfect day, but the price for such a day seems to be weeks of shite weather.
Naw, but backpacking, that's hardcore Sir. Was thinking maybe next summer I should really pick a fine hill, wait for a guid day and head up in the evening, watch the sun go down, have a wee bivvy bag kip, and watch it come back up again. Sort of dip ma foot in.
Anyway Schiehallion;
![[Image: 8442924884_873f72f761_z.jpg]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8074/8442924884_873f72f761_z.jpg)
The wind picking up;
![[Image: 8439524950_187919f677_z.jpg]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8326/8439524950_187919f677_z.jpg)
You wouldn't believe what you'll see on certain popular hills in winter - anything goes. I did Schiehallion back at the beginning of February (very popular hill) and it was nuts. Was a beautiful day, you were walking on snow 15 minutes from the car park, clear blue skies and no wind. But looking at the hill I could see there was a cloud and bit of white haze around the summit. I figured it might be a bit breezy up on the top.
The car park was full, cars parked down the road and all over the place, the hill was jumping, though the upper reaches of the hill were much quieter, most folks turned back.
I saw guys in jeans, a fella with a massive camera backpack and tri-pod who said he was heading for the top, though the look on his pissed off girl friend suggested otherwise. Two young ladies with matching pink handbags and pink wellies. I bumped into three guys wearing parka jackets, combat trousers and drinking cans of cider and guinness on the summit, one of them was complaining that his boot kept coming off, and he has his sock off to empty the snow out of it! Wasn't too bad when I was on the summit, but on leaving the wind kicked up, the kind off wind you can lean into and it'll hold you up. The spin drift can really cut into you, popped on my cheap ski goggles and saw the three lads running past me a full tilt perhaps in fear of their lives! I watched em run doon the hill a bit and saw one fella go head over heel and a boot flying off up into the air. Bet he froze that foot and I'll bet it hurt thawing out. Couldn't get a shot of em as my camera had frozen at that point, warmed it up inside my jacket.
Was walking on snow and ice two weeks ago on Aonach Beag and Mor (was over 4000 feet though), absolutely perfect day, but the price for such a day seems to be weeks of shite weather.
Naw, but backpacking, that's hardcore Sir. Was thinking maybe next summer I should really pick a fine hill, wait for a guid day and head up in the evening, watch the sun go down, have a wee bivvy bag kip, and watch it come back up again. Sort of dip ma foot in.
Anyway Schiehallion;
The wind picking up;