Clothing and Equipment for Winter Mountain Walking
The following list of clothing and equipment for winter mountain walking should be useful in deciding what to wear/take in winter conditions (i.e. snow and ice is widespread):-
Main Clothing
- Base-layer top (Synthetic or synthetic/wool blend. Never cotton – “cotton kills”)
- Base-layer leggings (Depending on temperatures and personal preference)
- Trousers (such as heavy-weight soft-shell)
- Insulation layer – combination of fleeces and/or Primaloft jackets
- Windproof layer – can be a separate jacket or part of another garment, such as a Pertex outer on a Primaloft jacket
- Hard-shell waterproof jacket (with a good range of large pockets)
- Waterproof over-trousers (with side zips if possible)
- ***Emergency Jacket. This is not part of the insulation layers that you will wear during the day. This is an additional jacket that you do not plan on wearing, but which will save your life as you shiver away the night hours waiting for a Mountain Rescue team to reach you. Climbers may also know this is as a ‘belay jacket’. It should be a good Primaloft jacket with a water resistant outer (Primaloft performs better than down when wet). A jacket such as the Mountain Equipment Citadel is a good example.
Footwear
- Socks
- Boots (fairly stiff to ensure suitability for crampons – B:1 absolute minimum or B:2 would be preferable. A B:3 boot is necessary for climbing.)
- Gaiters (optional, depending on trouser and boot design)
Head and Hands
- Hat (eg a woolly beanie, but make sure it can fit under a helmet. No bobble hats)
- Fleece buff or scarf
- Thin thermal gloves (to wear on the high-output approach or ascent)
- *** Two pairs of thicker waterproof/insulated gloves (but not ski-gloves, which have no dexterity)
- Pair of mittens (good for the descent part of the day)
- Goggles
Equipment
- Head-torch plus spare batteries
- Crampons (compatible with and fitted for your boots)
- Ice-axe (simple walking design, not technical climbing tools – eg DMM Cirque)
- Ice-axe leash (optional, if preferred)
- Map (Harvey maps are definitely recommended but OS Landranger 1:50000 and/or Explorer 1:25000 are also fine)
- Compass
- Whistle
- Mobile phone and waterproof case (optional, but ubiquitous)
- Rucksack 35-40 litres (depending on activity)
- Dry-bags for packing stuff in
- Bivi bag/survival bag/group shelter
- Simple repair kit (cable ties, sticky tape, superglue)
- Personal medication (and simple treatments, eg blister kit)
- Thermos flask and/or water bottle
- Lunch snacks
- Notebook & pen
- WAG Bag for toilet waste
- Trekking poles (optional – if you prefer them)
Recommended reading
http://www.mountain-training.org/publications/hill-walking
http://www.mountain-training.org/publications/navigation
http://www.mountain-training.org/publications/winter-skills
Scotland’s Winter Mountains, Martin Moran (David & Charles; 2nd Revised edition (31 Oct. 1998))
