Top 11 tips to improve your winter hiking & mountaineering for International Mountain Day

This year's BMC Winter Lecture Series falls right around International Mountain Day (11 Dec), with talks in Bangor, Manchester and Bristol from 10-12 Dec respectively. The evenings cover everything you need to know about adventuring in the winter mountains in safety, including gear, route planning, weather, packing, boots, crampons, ice axes and avalanche awareness. So to give you a little sneak preview, we asked speakers, seasoned winter mountaineers Sam Leary and Mick Jones, to share their top 11 tips for staying safe in the winter mountains.

Hi Sam, have you ever been in a seriously scary winter mountain situation?

Probably my first proper winter mountain day, we headed up Tryfan and a more experienced member of our group decided we should go down the North Ridge. We had a walking axe each but no other kit. We were all in soft summer boots which proved to be pretty useless in the harder snow as things froze later in the day. We watched in horror as the afore mentioned more experienced person slipped and accelerated so fast away from us. Luckily (he had let go of his axe as he slid) he landed on a big ledge and stopped. He was okay, but we were all very shaken. We descended very slowly and into darkness. We felt extremely lucky to be able to enjoy the fire at the Bryn Tyrch pub afterwards.

What's the most common mistake you see people making in the winter mountains?

Underestimating the impact of the weather both physically (moving slower etc) and technically. It really doesn’t take much to become disorientated on a cloudy, snowy day. This is then compounded by the shorter daylight hours. If you ask the Mountain Rescue teams [all volunteers remember] the biggest call out reason is still people getting lost. It starts when people are not sure of where they are, then they slow down, then it gets dark, then it gets very cold.

Why are the BMC Winter Lectures so important?

The winter lectures really help to highlight how key some prior planning is. We will go through a winter great day out, from start to finish, taking people through many of the key steps and considerations, (including what to do if things don’t quite go according to plan).

There will be loads of advice on kit - we are all gear freaks after all. Lots of ideas on how to venture out in winter if you haven’t done so before. All the way through to highlighting skills and techniques for the more experienced winter walker/mountaineer/climber. Oh, there are prizes too. Lots of chances to ask questions. Audience participation, lots of laughter. Did I mention prizes?! Definitely an entertaining evening shared with likeminded folk and a heap of inspiring photos and video to feed the winter psych.

1 Your top route planning tip?

Everything takes longer in winter, maybe think about slightly shorter days than in summer, particularly if the visibility is poor and you will need to navigate a lot. Also deep snow slows you down and the days are shorter.

2 Favourite gear tip?

Lots of people (women in particular) struggle with heel lift in stiffer winter boots. Try wearing a neoprene ankle guard, makes your ankle fatter so you fill the boot and can complete stop heel lift and blisters. Wind specs make a massive difference if you're a contact lens wearer (and even if you don't wear contact lens) they are super cheap yet make such a difference to your day. Also good to look after your eyes.

3 Best packing tip?

A slightly roomier bag than you need so you can rummage without taking things out where they might blow away. Coloured dry bags really help with organising kit in the bag too.

4 Top weather tip?

People always underestimate the impact of wind speed when looking at the forecast, and overestimate wind speed when standing in it. Give the weather a lot of respect in winter and remember it's just a forecast.

5 A good nutrition tip?

Find out what works for you. Take food that you will definitely be bothered to stop and eat because you really like it. Pocket food is almost essential I would say, munchies that you can access easily (that includes managing wrappers in gloves as well as the location you have them stored). Make sure you are properly hydrated before heading out, weeing like a spaniel at the start of your day is a good sign.

6 And your fave winter tip of all time?

Going up is optional, coming home is not. Remember this is recreation. The first part is Rienhold Messner's, the last part is mine.

Hi Mick, what has been your most scary moment early on in your winter mountain experience?

Trusting my navigation in my first proper whiteout.

What is the most common mistake you see people making in the winter mountains?

Not being properly equipped for the harsh winter conditions.

Why is it so important to attend a BMC Winter Lecture Series talk?

The better prepared you are, the more enjoyable your day in the winter hills will be. We never stop learning, so pop along to one of our lectures - it would be great to see you there.

7 Your top route planning tip?

Start with shorter routes, in areas that don’t require complex navigation and are easier to retreat from. As your skills develop you can then head into more challenging areas knowing you have developed your skills to cope with your surroundings.

8 Favourite gear tip?

Get gloves that fit you. Being able to do everything from re-tying your boot laces up to operating a compass will be much more comfortable if you can keep your gloves on. Also, my favourite winter tip of all time is to pop some hand warmer sachets inside your gloves - it’s a game changer. Having cold hands can be extremely uncomfortable and have a big impact on your day. I always carry a couple of sets in the top of my rucksack ready to pop into my gloves as soon as the temperature drops.

9 Best packing tip?

I love packing everything in my rucksack in coloured dry bags. It keeps all my kit dry and also helps organise my equipment so that I know where everything is.

10 Top weather tip?

Always check the weather before heading out and constantly monitor the conditions throughout the day to ensure it matches what you were expecting. If the weather changes from what you were expecting think how that might impact on your day and adjust your plans accordingly.

11 A good nutrition tip?

I like to take food that is easy to stow in pockets so that I can eat on the go. I don’t tend to stop for long lunch breaks as it’s often too cold. Pick foods that won’t freeze too easily - cheese, nuts and chorizo sausage are my favourite winter fuel.

Join us for the BMC Winter Lecture Series, your essential prep for winter adventures in the mountains. This UK tour brings expert insights, hands-on advice, and real-life stories from seasoned winter mountaineers Sam Leary and Mick Jones.

Whether you're looking to boost your winter skills, learn about safety essentials, or hear tales from the sharp end, our speakers have you covered. Perfect for anyone from seasoned alpinists to those eager to tackle their first winter ascent - come along, get inspired, and make sure you're ready to tackle winter head-on!

This event is brilliant for anyone who wants to learn more about winter hill and mountain skills. You'll go from bumbling about to striding with confidence to the summit.

Each evening will cover everything the new winter adventurer could possibly need including:

• What to wear
• Planning your day
• Reading the weather
• Packing a rucksack
• Boots, crampons & axes
• Avalanche awareness

TICKETS

BMC Members: £8.50

Non-members £13

Find out more and book here.