This month's Climb magazine comes with a free winter mountaineering supplement. It is aimed at summer climbers who already have some winter walking experience and want to make the transition to winter routes. It assumes readers are already familiar with basic winter skills like crossing steep snow with ice axe and crampons, navigation in limited visibility and basic rock climbing techniques. If this sounds like you then it is a good introduction to the skills you will need to become a winter mountaineer. No book or magazine can ever be a substitute for instruction with a qualified instructor but, if you are planning to do a winter mountaineering course this year, this supplement is worth reading. It will give you an introduction to many of the techniques you will cover on a course. Armed with some prior knowledge you will be able to get more from any course you go on.
If you have not yet discovered the joys of winter and the Climb supplement is a bit too advanced for you then Trail magazine often have basic introductions to winter walking. I have not seen one yet this year but I am sure there will be one in the next couple of months.
If you buy Climb magazine be sure to check out our advert on page 21 of the supplement.
Jill


