Event Features
Want to go hill walking in winter? Aspen is running a series of Winter Skills Training Days in January, February and March 2026. The venue for the training will be Beinn Ghlas, near Killin, about 1hr 30min from Glasgow or 2hrs from Edinburgh. The winter skills course is an introduction to winter hillwalking, covering:
- Kit and Equipment
- Understanding the Be Avalanche Aware process and developing an understanding of snow types and snowpack structure
- Planning a winter hill walk, including weather and avalanche forecasting
- Snowcraft and walking skills: kicking steps in ascent and descent; selection and carriage of ice axe; cutting steps uphill and downhill; ice axe-self arrest; selection and fitting of crampons; movement up, down, and across slopes using crampons.
- Emergency snow shelters
- Winter hazards – cornice collapse, avalanche-prone slopes, hypothermia, frostbite, high winds, icy verglassed slopes.
Kit and Equipment - What to bring?
We can provide the following kit to you:
- Ice axe
- crampons
- Ski poles
- Gaiters
- Helmet
- Map
Please bring the following items of kit (for more info see this blog):
- Winter Boots
- Waterproof jacket and trousers (or salopettes)
- Hat, balaclava, neck buff
- Two pairs of warm gloves (ski glove type). Mittens are a good idea too.
- Thermal leggings/trousers. Merino wool or Fleece. Polyester (gym-type) leggings are not warm enough!
- Thermal base long-sleeve top (merino wool) and two thermal jumpers/tops (fleece for example. No hoodies). Your second thermal jumper/top could be a down or synthetic down jacket.
- 40-litre rucksack
- Water bottle
- Flask (500ml is fine)
- Sunglasses
- Sun cream
- Map case
