Blog
Mountaineering
Mountaineering brings us to high, windswept summits and curving, glaciated ridges, but requires good judgement, fitness and technical skills. Check out my Cairngorms Winter Skills courses for a great intro.
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Do you get avalanches in Scotland?
Avalanches occur every winter in the Highlands of Scotland, which surprises not only tourists but also some hikers and skiers.
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Cab9 Edge sunglasses review
The Edge sunglasses from Cab9 are a great buy if you’re looking for a set of well-priced shades with good coverage and polarised lenses.
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Do you get wildfires in Scotland?
Scotland does indeed get wildfires, and there is an increasing need amongst visitors to prevent these and forest fires.
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Ben Macdui: a big summit with big stories
High elevation, reasonable walking difficulty and handy parking make Ben Macdui one of the most rewarding summits in the Cairngorms.
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Winter mountaineering boots: B1, B2 or B3?
Winter mountaineering boots are usually classified as B2 or B3, with B1 boots more suited to low-angled ‘winter walking’.
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Crampon types and fitting advice
Crampons come in many designs including hiking / walking and mountaineering / climbing types, so choose carefully!
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Ice axe: the different types and how to choose one
The ice axe is an essential tool in the winter mountains, and this guide will help you with choosing between the many different types.
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Winter hill walking in Scotland
Learn about hill walking on Britain’s winter mountains and the challenge of bagging Scotland’s frozen summits.
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Tenacious Tape review: perfect for down jacket repairs
If your trusty down puffy or belay jacket gets holed, follow this guide for a quality, near permanent and invisible fix.
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Winter mountaineering kit list
Basic kit list for single day winter mountaineering / hill walking in non-technical terrain.
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What to wear for winter hiking
List of recommended clothing and gear to wear for winter and cold-weather hiking
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Basic winter mountaineering skills
It is essential to learn some core mountaineering skills, if you want to go hill walking in winter.
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UV Sun Protection
Enjoy the sun but avoid UV damage, by wearing sunglasses with both UVA and UVB protection and following these sunburn prevention tips.
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Stay hydrated outdoors: 6 tips for healthy adventures
Stay hydrated to stay healthy. Proper hydration becomes even more important (but difficult) when exercising in remote outdoor locations.
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Keep cool outdoors: 6 tips to avoid overheating
Follow these tips to keep cool outdoors and avoid heat injuries such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
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Prevent and treat blisters
A blister on your foot can be a big problem in some outdoor activities – learn how to prevent blisters, and get tips for their treatment.
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Choosing mountaineering / ski touring gloves
Ski touring / mountaineering gloves balance warmth, flexibility and waterproofing.
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Avalanche transceiver: functions and how to use
Understand what an avalanche transceiver (beacon) is and how to use it for companion rescue.
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How to use an avalanche probe
Should the worst happen, save valuable seconds by using your avalanche probe properly.
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What is the Layering Principle?
The layering principle will help you design an outdoor clothes system for hiking and other adventure activities.
