Equipment
Introduction
Above the Clouds
Hillwalking is a cheap outdoor pursuit to get into. Many of you will already have all the equipment needed to start, such as a decent waterproof jacket and a pair of hiking boots. These items are absolutely essential to your safety when out walking under some fairly harsh conditions.
The Weather in Scotland
Scotland's weather has a notorious reputation, but in reality it is no worse than any other part of Britain. The climate is temperate maritime, which means summers are mild and winters cool. Rain falls all year round (or as snow in the winter) but not every day! The weather is controlled by low-pressure depressions and high-pressure anticyclones which form mostly over the Atlantic, and the key thing is that the weather changes every few days and it is fairly unpredictable. Weather forecasts are reasonably reliable for the next few days, but even within one day it can change dramatically and unexpectedly.
The hillwalker must always be prepared for rain (anything from a wee smurr to heavy storms), wind (up to 40mph is common on summits) and associated wind chill. The tops of mountains are often shrouded in cloud, and in cloud the visibility may reduce to a few feet, and the air will be very wet. In the winter, temperatures can remain a few degrees below freezing all day and you will need to wrap up to keep warm. If it is windy, the temperature on any exposed skin or non-windproof clothing will drop even further due to wind chill. Snow can blanket the summits well into spring, and patches can be found all year round. In the summer, temperatures can be anywhere between 5°C and 20°C, and in an anticyclone, still sunny days temperatures of close to 30°C even on summits are a rare treat!
The Stunning Highlands
Trails and Paths
The Land Reform Act 2003 gives a public right of access to the Scottish mountains, based on a long tradition of free recreational use unlike most European and North American countries. There are few waymarked trails and those that do exist stick to the glens (valleys). Nor are there rights of way like you would find in England and Wales; there may be a path but equally there may not. On an average day in the hills you may have to negotiate boggy glens, heather moors, steep hillsides, boulder fields and rough paths, so it is essential that adequate foot protection is worn. Navigation is difficult for those used to travelling on paths, and the inexperienced can and do get lost in the hills. If you are going out on your own, be sure that you know how to read a map and use a compass and be confident that you can navigate blind using bearings and pacing when the mist comes down on the hills. If not, make an effort to learn on led walks and on skills courses.
Accidents
Many accidents happen every year in the Scottish mountains, thankfully very few have affected our club because of our high safety standards. Most accidents are due to inadequate equipment and preparation.
Practising ice axe arrests at FirbushBlisters are very common and usually rather
uncomfortable. Caused by boots that do not fit you or have not been broken in,
they can be prevented by applying a Compeed plaster to a hot spot before a
blister forms, or partly treated by using one afterwards.
The most common injury is a sprained ankle -
these are common in descent and are excruciatingly painful and may prevent you
walking off the hill. The best way to avoid sprains is to wear a good pair of
walking boots with plenty of ankle support - and not coming down hill too quickly.
Potentially more serious are exposure and hypothermia. Hypothermia is where the body's temperature cools to a dangerously low level, and to preserve the core temperature the body starts to shut down the blood supply to the limbs. If action is not taken immediately you will lose consciousness and the group will have an emergency on their hands. Hypothermia is easily avoided by staying warm and dry and eating and drinking enough. Note that the body loses 70% of its heat through the head and therefore a warm woolly hat is absolutely essential - in fact they are so cheap there is no excuse. Gloves will protect your fingers from frostbite and it's worth packing a spare pair in case one gets wet (or blows away!).
A simple slip on snow can become a death slide in a matter of seconds. You may be inexperienced in the use of ice axe and crampons but it is very difficult and often dangerous to walk on snow and ice without them. You may not need them but sometimes it is difficult to assess snow and ice conditions until you are on the summits. Your walk organiser will teach you the basics of using them. If you wish to know more about walking in snow then the Winter Skills course at Firbush will equip you with the skills you need to venture into the mountains on your own in the winter.