Our first winter skills course for the season started with an informal gathering on Friday evening where we went through all our kit and practiced walking around with crampons, albeit on a plank of wood. Then we were up early and out onto the hills, where we learned how snow can differ through the snow pack, how this can effect avalanches and how to dig pits to test for risk. We also spent time using our ice axes and learning how to stop in the event of a fall as well as how to cut steps. In the afternoon we moved to steeper ground, looking at how to place our crampons on the ice.

On Sunday we started to look at simple rope skills, the type of thing that might get you out of a tricky situation but not as technical as may be required on Everest. These included snow bollards, bucket seats and even the classic stomper belay. You hope these may never be used but these quick techniques are extremely useful for winter walking. We carried on with snow pack analysis techniques and in the afternoon learned how to look after ourselves should it go wrong with some emergency shelters. We also spent time on winter navigation, we all found ourselves spending a lot of the time just enjoying the stunning the views of the Torridon area covered in snow.

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