HILL HACKS
DO put time into reading the weather forecast and the avalanche forecast, and then plan your day around them.
DO stay flexible as you walk in to your route. Look at the hill and gather information about what’s happening on the mountain – note where the snow is lying and where it might have blown from. Identify key places on your journey where you’ll stop and make decisions about whether your plan will work or not.
DO make sure everyone in your team knows the plan and is happy with it. Look for energy levels and psych as well as words.
DO make sure you all have the right kit and know how to use it. Ice axe and crampons are essential and a helmet might be too.
DO recognise that routes are harder and take longer in winter when the days are also shorter. Start earlier than normal and carry a headtorch plus spare batteries.
DO have several pairs of gloves. Three £30 pairs are better than one £100 pair.
DO listen to your sphincter, when out in winter. If it’s twitching nervously, something may be amiss. Take a breath, and plan your next steps.
DO remember you’re doing this for fun – so make sure you keep it enjoyable!
DON’T be overly ambitious. You want to be able to enjoy this for many years to come. Be realistic about your skills and progress incrementally. It’s more fun and safer that way.
DON’T forget to have a plan B, C and D, and let people at home know what these plans are and how they find you should you not come back at an agreed time.
KNOWLEDGE
■ ASK AN ANIMAL COMMON FROG Rana temporaria
Q: How do you not freeze in the winter?
A: Don’t hang about in winter much, tbh. From October onwards, as soon as it gets cold I’ll find somewhere damp and dark to shelter, and wriggle down as deeply as I can below the frost line. Then I drop my metabolism super low and wait. Some frogs spend the winter at the bottom of a pond – we can breathe through our skin, so as long as the pond retains a small space on the surface for air to get in, we’re fine. And first in line for mating season!
■ PUB QUIZ
A What is the biggest natural hole in the UK?
B How many Munros are on the Cuillin ridge?
C Which is the newest National Park?
A Hull Pot, near Pen-y-Ghent.
B 11.
C The South Downs, established in 2010.
■ ADVICE FROM MOUNTAIN RESCUE
“Before you get into spring, it’s worth unpacking your sack, checking the contents and repacking it. I like to check my headtorch batteries and power pack, and replace the ‘squashed stuff’ that’s got to the bottom. It’s also worth reviewing your clothing layers and spares, and I’d recommend adding an emergency shelter if you don’t already have one.” Ian Bunting, MREW Ops Director and member of Edale Mountain Resc
