Winter Skills Training Cairngorms

We left Inverness

In a thick foggy haar

And took the A9 to Aviemore

So we were’nt going far.

For our meeting in Tiso

With our new leader Max

Training with crampons

And the use of the Axe.

The first challenge we faced

As we walked in the door

Was not to spend any money

So we don’t walk out poor.

But you’ll know what it’s like

If your one of our kind.

No matter how strict you are,

There’s always new kit to find.

But the blinkers were on

As we marched up the stair

For a morning of theory

Such as avalanche care.

Then the rucksacks were packed

And we were pacing the hills

Keen to get started

And practice our skills

The sun had some force

As we hunted for snow

But Max knew the way,

There was just one place to go.

So there on the hill

In the bright blazing sun,

We slid down our snow field

Making it fun.

Then getting more serious

The axes came out

To learn the self belay

With confidence, not doubt.

On steeper ground yet

We put our skills to the test

With the snow walkers brake pad,

The ice axe arrest.

Then the crampons came out

As we honed this new skill

But with light fading fast

We headed downhill.

Taking part: Maz, Cal, Anne, Stella, Sean, Christine Words and Photos: Maz