A Selection of Winter Adventures – January look back

Adam Walker
Feb 15
4 min read

January delivered in style.

As soon as temperatures dropped and snow started settling, AMC members scattered to the winds chasing spindrift, frozen turf, steep ice and snowy ridges. What follows is just a snapshot of some of the winter adventures that unfolded across Scotland and Wales In January with plenty more we didn’t manage to capture!

Scotland: Wind, Ice & Proper Winter

Adam and Jake made the most of two strong days climbing Curved Ridge and North Buttress Ridge. Their second day began with a brutal wind that threatened to shut things down early, but perseverance paid off. Once established on the route they found shelter from the worst of it, got moving, and morale returned!

Ethan, Leo, Joe, Ross & Leuan based themselves at Lagangarbh Hut for a packed few days. Highlights included The Smear (IV,4), complete with a character-building descent involving multiple unplanned abseils in the dark and a swift traverse of the Aonach Eagach Ridge in good condition. Beinn Udlaidh then provided first pure ice leads for Joe and Ross on Sunshine Gully (III), while South Gully (IV,4) and the classic Quartzvein Scoop (IV,4) were successfully ticked off. Not every objective went to plan though a “one-hour” approach to The Cobbler turned into three before retreating, but winter judgement is as valuable as winter sends.

Jamie, Lisa and Max were also out making the most of the conditions. Lisa and Jamie climbed Quartzvein Scoop at Beinn Udlaidh before embarking on what can only be described as extensive powder swimming. Max and Jamie then found themselves river-jumping and standing at the base of what’s often called Scotland’s best kept roadside secret arriving just one day too late for prime conditions. Winter timing: cruel but character-building.

Anthony and Greg enjoyed two classic winter days, with Greg’s first taste of Scottish winter climbing on Jacob’s Edge in Coire an t-Sneachda, followed by Dorsal Arête on Stob Coire nan Lochan. The Clachaig Inn provided the obligatory victory meal.

Chris H began with skills refreshers, crampons, movement and self-arrest before heading up Aladdin’s Couloir, a first Scottish winter route for some in the team. With guides, they then tackled steep ice on Creag Meagaidh, including South Pipe Direct and Staghorn Gully, complete with a looming ice umbrella. The week culminated in Chris leading his first mixed winter route, Twin Ribs into Fiacaill Ridge!

Liv in the Cairngorms: Wind, White & Why We Go

Despite being from Edinburgh, Liv had never ventured into the Highlands in winter. There were always reasons not to: short daylight hours, biting wind, uncertain snow, the gravitational pull of Christmas lethargy. And yet, in January, she found herself heading into the Cairngorms for a winter mountaineering course with the John Conville Memorial Trust, encouraged (some might say persuaded) by fellow AMC members who insisted Scottish winters could actually be fun.

Conditions were full value. Heavy snowfall blanketed the plateau while a relentless southeasterly wind scoured the hills. On the first day, walking from the Cairngorm ski centre into Coire an t-Sneachda, the group battled a spindrift that reduced visibility to near zero. It was “blowing a hooley” in every sense. Under the guidance of Lena, their instructor, they worked through crampon technique, movement on steep ground and the fundamentals of safe winter travel. At one point, the wind briefly relented just long enough to reveal a mountain hare and then a ptarmigan, both in full winter white, flitting through a winter dreamscape. A reminder of why we endure the cold in the first place.

Day two brought a strategic retreat to lower elevations to avoid the worst of the wind, focusing on winter navigation, avalanche awareness and repeated ice axe arrest practice. A final walk up Carn na Cloiche ended with a summit that quite literally knocked them off their feet, blown over by gusts strong enough to demand retreat. She would highly recommend the JCMT courses to anyone who is keen to explore winter mountaineering

North Wales: Snowy Ridges & Bluebird Days

North Wales delivered its own flavour of winter.

Josh and Becca joined Will and Felix in the North Wales Mountaineering Club hut as snow transformed the Carneddau. A wild loop over Carnedd Llewelyn in fierce winds, exploration around Cwm Lloer, and a snowy Crib Goch traverse in deep, unconsolidated snow made for three adventurous days. Three layers of snowfall but limited freeze–thaw meant fun, soft ridge days rather than fully formed ice.

Chris C and a friend climbed Trinity Buttress on Clogwyn y Garnedd in powdery but well-frozen turf conditions before Storm Goretti loomed. With avalanche warnings issued, they opted for an underground adventure through the Croesor–Rhosydd slate mines, a very exciting adventure, particularly emptying the partially submerged in-situ canoe... Saturday brought blue skies and exceptional conditions on the East Face of Bristly Ridge, climbing Great Tower Buttress (Knave variation) and topping out on Glyder Fach above a sea of cloud, one of those rare, relaxed winter mountain days.

On our doorstep

Closer to home, Connor and Gwen enjoyed a snowy 10km wander over Hatterall Hill along the England–Wales border. Thigh-deep drifts, ponies, deer, rabbits, kites and even peacocks featured — with lasagne and chips in the pub by 5pm. As all winter days should end.