WIINTER NEWBIES

Senhal on her first taste of winter walking

Traversing

Descending

Sliding

Soft snow

Coire an Lochain

Drifts on Easterly aspects

Snehal and Hemant had never been hillwalking in summer never mind winter before. Today they were out with me for a winter experience and to see what all this mountain stuff is about. Luckily they chose a benign day to get to grips with the winter hills. The temperatures had gone up a notch this morning, the freezing level was above the summits. There are still big areas of snow on Easterly aspects, enough to cover a wide range of winter skills. We headed onto the bounding ridge of Coire an Lochain. Only a stiff SW breeze so we were sheltered once we were on to steep ground. I can't recall anyone I have taken out in the hills who had such an amazing transition within a short space of time as Snehal did today. From being intimidated and nervous on straightforward, easy angled  lower ground to having so much confidence on steep, long and high snow slopes. By the end of the day she was wanting to slide down long 35 degree snow slopes with absolutely no fear or trepidation. That's what I love most about my job. Well done to them both, the start of something big!