Winter Weekend March 2023

The winter weekend trip for 2023 will be at Aviemore over the weekend of the 10th to the 12th of March. The weather is going to be perfect, the roads will be clear and the train strike will be over….perhaps.

Accommodation is in the Aviemore Youth Hostel https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/hostels/aviemore/ and the cost for two nights is £50. The deal for accommodation this year, instead of simple discount is a 3 for 2 nights deal so our bedrooms will be available from Thursday the 9th for anyone able to make an early start.

Three rooms with four beds in each have been booked so please get your name down soon and be prompt with payment to guarantee your space. If we have sufficient response it may be possible to book another room or two or individual accommodation can be organised directly with the hostel or elsewhere.

The hostel is self-catering although can become very busy in the kitchen. There is a Tesco store as well as bars, restaurants and shops nearby in Aviemore. On Saturday evening we aim to have a club curry night at the Indian Restaurant which is less than 100m from the hostel https://tamannaindian.co.uk/ .

To guarantee your space in a booked room please message me directly or post here and pay your £50 into the club bank account using reference: your initial, surname and WW23 (for me that’s dmannionww23). Bank details can be sent to you via WhatsApp if needed. If numbers exceed the 12 existing spaces we’ll endeavour to make an additional room booking.

Winter mountaineering experience is not essential although we are not a training school. For those who are new to winter mountaineering there will most likely be a more experienced member willing to share knowledge and over the weekend, introduce a small group to the Scottish winter environment. Please let me know if you are inexperienced or need any help to refresh techniques in order to operate safely and confidently on the hills in winter. The BMC website has a lot of information on all topics of winter skills https://www.thebmc.co.uk/watch-and-learn-new-winter-skills-video-series .

Suitable equipment is essential for all participants in winter mountaineering. Poor or inadequate equipment can put lives at risk. Please let me know if you are unsure about any of your personal equipment. There may be club members willing to loan equipment if someone is short of the right gear.

My personal plan: I aim to head up to Aviemore on the Thursday morning and hopefully get into Cairngorm corries in the afternoon before checking into the hostel. I assume that conditions are going to be great and I’ll climb on Friday then I’m happy to lead a group of novices all day Saturday. Sunday will be a last blast on the hill with either a climb or possibly a low grade route with novices before heading south after lunchtime. If the conditions aren’t perfect, safe or circumstances otherwise dictate, we make it up as we go along and do whatever, wherever, we can.

Looking forward to seeing you for a fantastic, fun and safe weekend!

Dave M