[HOW TO]
DO pack a bigger bag. You’re looking at 40-45 litres to take all the extra layers, food and kit you’ll need.
DO layer your gloves. You’ll want a liner pair that work with your phone so you don’t have to take them off, and larger waterproof gloves or mitts to go over the top.
DO wear gaiters. They prevent snow from getting in your boots at the ankle, stop the bottom of your trousers getting wet and then soaking down into your socks, and guard against crampon snags. They’re near essential for keeping your feet dry and therefore warm.
DO pack plenty of warm things – temperatures on the heights can be savage. -10°C wind chill or colder is perfectly normal, even when it’s mild at sea-level.
DO have a good meal the night before and bring plenty of calorie-dense foods. You can expect to burn 500kcal (or one Pukka Pie) per hour, or around 4500kcal per day.
DO go with a more experienced mate, someone who has (successfully!) walked in winter conditions before. If you don’t know anyone, join a mountaineering club. Check out the BMC in England and Wales(thebmc.co.uk/ climbing-wall-finder#clubs) and Mountaineering Scotland (mountaineering.scot/find-a-club).
DO get on a course. This will ensure you have at least an introduction to the skills you’ll need, such as assessing a slope for avalanche risk, saving yourself in a fall and walking safely in crampons. Mountaineering Scotland run one and two-day courses, but a quick internet search will yield plenty of results.
DO keep in mind that hills which are moderately low and simple in summer can be knackering in winter. It’s not unusual for your pace to drop to less than 2kph when breaking trail through snow. Keep your ambitions in check or plan a route with early escapes. Start easy and build up.
DON’T go anywhere without checking the weather conditions on these websites, ideally the night before: metoffice.gov.uk/ weather/specialist-forecasts/ mountain and mwis.org.uk
DON’T rely on your phone for navigation, as they often fail or lose power in cold weather. Ensure you know how to use a map and compass.
KNOWLEDGE
Q Why does the tip of your tail stay black when the rest of your coat is white?
A This is classic hunter-deflection. We’re vulnerable to birds of prey in the winter, so while white fur blends in with white snow, the contrast and movement of the tail tip draws the eye, prompting the raptor to attack there and not the body. Or at least, that’s the hope. Weasels don’t have one, probably because they spend more time underground.
Wind, especially in gusts, is a risk if you’re on exposed ground or a narrow ridge. What seems like a gentle breeze in a valley will increase with height, and can be funnelled and accelerated through channels and gaps, creating tur
