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Exploring the UK mountain landscape when snow is thick underfoot and stretches as far as you can see is one of the most enjoyable and exhilarating experiences a walker can have. It is spectacularly beautiful and often awe-inspiring. But it also holds many challenges.

Winter mountain walks require you to develop various skills to keep you safe and help you enjoy the mountain environment. At RAW Adventures, we run a popular Winter Mountain Skills course in the Cairngorms, where we share our many years of experience and expertise and teach the necessary skills to new winter mountain walkers.

As the season approaches, we wanted to create a helpful guide to what winter skills you require to operate safely in the mountains and what you can expect to learn in these courses.

What mountains are we talking about when we refer to ‘winter mountain skills’?

Mountainous terrain varies considerably. While the toughest terrain here in the UK presents a significant challenge at times, it differs from the mountain environments you will find on the continent or in the rest of the world. Consequently, the skills required are different, too. Tackling Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in snowy conditions demands a distinct skillset to high-mountain adventures in the Alps or Himalayan expeditions, for instance.

With this in mind, it is worth briefly discussing the types of environments in which the skills we explore in this guide are relevant. Mountain Training UK and Ireland (MTUKI) define this type of mountainous terrain as

wild country which may contain unavoidable snow and/or ice covered steep and rocky ground where walkers are dependent upon themselves for immediate help.

It also provides a handy list of places where this terrain is found:

What are winter conditions?

It may seem obvious, but it is important to recognise that winter conditions mean more than just walking in the mountains between November and February. Winter conditions are often more changeable than at other times of the year and bring an entirely new set of challenges.

The short daylight hours, changing underfoot conditions and dangerous natural events, such as avalanches, mean developing a whole new field of knowledge and learning to be aware of (and how to respond to) these unique hazards. Similarly, being able to distinguish between safe and unsafe winter conditions is critical.

Understanding winter weather forecasts and learning how to apply this information to planning and executing a winter mountain walk takes time and requires experience. But it is an essential winter mountain skill if you want to participate in walks in this type of terrain and conditions.

Understanding your group and communicating effectively

The first step in the preparation process is assessing the group you are heading into the mountains with and developing an understanding of what they want to achieve. It involves assessing physical abilities, skill levels, experience, the group dynamic and objectives. Mountain safety is most regularly compromised when we go beyond our abilities, so establishing those limits shapes the rest of your planning.

However, it is not just about skill. We want the people we share the experience with to enjoy it, too. One of the best ways to ensure this happens is by taking time to agree on achievable goals. What does the group want to take from the experience? And how do you want to go about it?

If walking with less experienced participants, now is also the time to discuss potential hazards and group responsibilities. Experienced summer walkers are not necessarily aware of the dangers posed by winter conditions, so do not assume their previous walking has adequately prepared them. Communicate what they can expect to encounter and the potential risks associated with unsafe winter walking.

Planning and preparation

When preparing for your winter walk, take your agreed goals and use them as your planning foundations. If you are choosing and plotting a route, always be aware of your group assessment and ensure you stay within the group’s abilities. Just as important – be conscious of your limitations and the scope of your training and previous experience.

Plotting a safe route requires an understanding of the terrain, conditions and potential hazards. Recognising key places on the proposed route before departure enables you to make intelligent decisions. This knowledge is best acquired through an accredited training programme, like our Winter Mountain Skills course, and is an integral aspect of moving safely in the mountains during winter.

Beyond these skills, local knowledge also plays an important role in effective planning. While you may not always have first-hand experience of the local area, communicating with those who do can be highly beneficial and help you plan a safe, interesting and enjoyable route. Finally, group leaders also need to know when they do not have sufficient information about a particular aspect of the planning or a section of the route. This should be a warning sign and encourage you to seek guidance before proceeding.

Mountain weather

The expected weather conditions are one of the most significant differences between mountain walking in the winter and other times of the year. It is difficult to understate the importance of a deep understanding of what winter conditions involve, how they affect your walks and how to interpret forecasts and weather phenomena.

Learning to interpret weather forecasts and what they mean for your excursions is a fundamental winter walking skill. But forecasts are not something you check prior to departure and then forget about. Experienced walkers understand the intricacies of a forecast, know what conditions will develop as a result, and constantly assess whether the forecast is manifesting accurately when on the mountain.

You also need to be aware of signs that the weather is changing or diverging from the forecast’s predictions. Meteorological features, such as cloud formation, wind speed, temperature and wind chill, offer valuable insights into what is happening around you and what conditions you can expect over the coming hours.

The next step is understanding how these factors influence and affect the mountain environment around you. Weather can impact terrain and your ability to operate in it significantly, affecting topological features, like cornices, and other hazards, such as avalanches and visibility.

Underfoot conditions

Snow, ice and other winter terrain behave very differently from the rock, dirt and grass summer walkers are used to. They are complex and ever-changing, adding to the challenge of walking in winter. Snow stability varies drastically between locations and according to the weather. The ability to identify the factors that contribute to instability and understand how to avoid them will help you stay safe.

Similarly, an ability to recognise cornices and the inherent dangers will prevent you from travelling across potentially hazardous terrain. All mountain walkers should be familiar with avalanche forecasts and be able to plot routes that avoid those hazards wherever possible.

Equipment choices

Selecting the right equipment for the environment is essential. Winter weather conditions can pose serious challenges and correct equipment choices are one of the best ways to mitigate them. Without appropriate equipment, hypothermia, frostbite and compromised decision-making are all distinct possibilities.

While staying warm is a primary concern, equipment selection also encompasses gear required to aid movement through mountain terrain, such as ice axes and crampons. This equipment does not necessarily need to be expensive, but it should be of sufficiently high quality that you can depend on it in difficult circumstances.

Equipment selection also encompasses food and water. Proper nutrition and hydration are key, and your choices need to meet two main requirements:

• • Easy to consume (no fuel-intensive cooking or luxury dishes)
• • Provide a good energy return (carbohydrate-rich and calorie-dense foods).

Less experienced mountain walkers tend to either underpack or overpack. Neither is desirable. While walkers will gradually streamline their kit choice and find the optimal balance over time, experienced mountain walkers never leave things to chance and always carry the essentials.

Walking skills

Just like summer walking, winter walking requires you to develop technical skills to traverse the landscape more efficiently. Pace, rhythm, balance and foot placement are all critical skills we often take for granted. However, they play a significant role in energy consumption and improper technique can lead to increased fatigue.

The snow also demands a new set of skills and plenty of practice. In most cases, the only way of learning these skills is by replicating them in the field in a relatively controlled environment. For instance, mountain walkers will need to learn how to safely kick personal steps on ascents and descents, as well as practising ice axe use and self-arrest techniques when sliding. Crampons can also take some getting used to. Walkers should be able to quickly and efficiently clip themselves in and out of crampons and feel comfortable walking in them.

Navigation

While navigation skills are important for any walker, they are particularly relevant for winter mountain walkers. Combining well-developed map and navigation skills enables you to identify potential hazards, such as cornices, and follow a safe route that avoids them. It also helps you to keep moving when winter conditions result in reduced visibility.

Crucially, map reading plays a role in emergencies, when walkers need to provide an accurate grid reference for their location and quickly relocate if necessary.

Dealing with emergencies

When winter walking in the mountains, you need to be able to respond to all the common injuries and medical problems you may experience in summer conditions. However, you must also expand your skills to accommodate the unique challenges posed by the conditions and environment.

For instance, mountain hypothermia, snow blindness and cold injuries, such as frostnip and frostbite, are all serious concerns that can result in considerable bodily harm if not treated appropriately. Often, treatment is made more difficult by the prevailing conditions and this should also be taken into account when preparing for your mountain walk.

Finally, all mountain walkers must have a comprehensive understanding of rescue and recovery procedures and plan escape routes that allow for quick and safe descent from higher altitudes. Digging snow holes and shelters is a fantastic skill to have at your disposal, but conditions may not always allow for their creation. Consequently, they should never be relied upon as the sole means of shelter for any walk.

Staying aware

Our last skill is general awareness. It may sound broad. But it is a core skill that takes practice. As a winter walker in the mountains, you must remain aware at all times and constantly assess the environment, conditions and group.

Staying aware and observant enables you to identify hazards early, recognise when the group is fatigued and make more informed decisions. It can be easy to switch off as you find your walking rhythm and the natural beauty around you absorbs your attention. However, good winter walkers are always aware of and critically assessing their surroundings. Their safety (and the group’s) depends on it.

RAW Adventures and the Winter Mountain Skills course

To stay safe in the winter mountain environment, you need to work on all the skills discussed in this guide. Winter mountain walking is an immensely rewarding experience. But it does expose you to risk. Understanding those hazards and learning techniques to mitigate them is the best way to enjoy the mountains and their remarkable beauty without putting yourself in danger.

Typically lasting three days and four nights, our Winter Mountain Skills courses take place in Scotland’s spectacular Cairngorm Mountains and are designed to ensure you benefit from a supportive environment that is conducive to learning. They feature fantastic accommodation, great home-cooked food and unbeatable company. They cover many of the skills explored in this guide and provide the foundational knowledge and techniques required to begin exploring the mountains in winter.

To learn more about the Winter Mountain Skills course, head to our course details page or reach out to the RAW Adventures team. We are happy to answer any questions you may have and provide guidance on which RAW Adventures course is right for you.