Walkers reminded to prepare for winter in the mountains
The first snows of winter have already fallen. Hill walkers have been warned they should be prepared for winter conditions.
With clocks having already gone back an hour, darkness is coming a lot sooner. Consequently a headtorch is an essential piece of kit.
“Short days and severe weather put greater demands on your equipment and your own ability and hillcraft.” Mountaineering Scotland Mountain Safety Adviser, Heather Morning, confirms.
Winterise your equipment
Advice is “to ‘winterise’ your rucksack.” “Make sure you’re properly prepared for winter weather and have all the necessary equipment.” This includes adequate clothing.
“Planning for your route takes on extra importance too. You need to factor in the reduced daylight hours.” Also be aware that “weather and ground conditions could slow you down considerably.” It’s therefore best “not to be overambitious at the start of the season.”
sportscotland Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) will provide free daily reports from 14th December. These give snow conditions and avalanche forecasts for six mountain areas of Scotland.
General hill walking and winter mountaineering advice is also available through the Mountaineering Scotland website. The organisation is also running a winter safety lecture tour. This is in partnership with Tiso, Cotswold and Craigdon stores. Check here for dates and venues.
Damon Powell, chair of Scottish Mountain Rescue, said: “We fully endorse the Mountaineering Scotland winter safety message.” We also “encourage hillgoers to ensure that they have left details of their intended route and expected return time.
Prepare as Mountain Rescue do
Mountain Rescue teams will have repacked their equipment. This is what’s needed for the shorter daylight hours, colder days and wintry weather. More warm clothing, winter grade waterproofs, thicker and more pairs of gloves and warmer hats. Also goggles, larger torches with sufficient battery to get through a night. Axe, crampons, avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel all dusted off and checked ready for when needed.
These days a range of navigational tools will ALL be carried to assist on dark nights too. Map and compass, GPS and smart phones with OS Locate or a mapping app. All will be weather proofed and tested to work in very wet and cold conditions and with enough spare batteries.
“Remember Mountain Rescue in Scotland is provided free by world class volunteers on call at all times and in all weathers. If you require assistance on the hills, dial 999 ask for Police then Mountain Rescue.”
Mountaineering Scotland
For further information, visit https://www.mountaineering.scot
