Descending Scafell Pike - Winter Walking in the Lake District
Winter Walking in the Lake District - Checklist
The clocks have changed and the days have shortened, but this doesn’t need to stop us getting out into the mountains and having incredibly good days out. A little more advance planning and preparation is required though and more kit will need to be carried.
To clarify, by winter walking we are meaning simply walking during the winter months, not necessarily when there is snow and ice on the ground.
Planning:
Crucial to any good day is to have a plan. Not 1 plan but 3 or 4, maybe more….. This starts with checking the weather forecast. We use MWIS mountain forecasts and find them to be pretty decent. They offer a synoptic chart as well as a detailed summary of the expected conditions in the mountains.
3 areas to pay close attention to are:
Wind: direction and likely speed.
Precipitation: How much and when.
Temperature: How cold (or warm).
Armed with the above information regarding weather, a suitable route plan can be made. Keep this attainable for all members of your party and have at least 1 back-up plan. Using a detailed map of the area you plan to walk in, check for escape routes and alternatives. Pay close attention to any watercourses that may need to be crossed, these can be high at this time of year and getting wet = getting very cold. If you’re looking to build confidence in map reading skills please check out our Navigation Courses
Extra kit for a winter day:
Head torch with a full charge and spare batteries. Carry this even if you intend to be home well before dark
Spare insulating layer - a gilet works well
Hat and gloves - consider doubling up on these too
Winter Buff
Sunscreen - winter days can be very bright too
Survival shelter / group shelter
Walking poles
Sunglasses
Whistle
Food and drink:
Flask of hot drink
Spare food / comfort food
High energy bar / gel
What to do in an emergency:
The reality is, accidents happen no matter how well prepared we are.
Stay calm, stay together, assess the danger and any casualties.
Remove any danger if possible.
Treat the casualty and make them as comfortable as possible. Insulate them from the ground and from any weather.
Call for help if required. Dial 999 or 112 and ask for Police. Then explain what has happened and follow their instructions. They will ask numerous questions, most will be very straightforward to answer, the most difficult might be ‘where are you?’ - using your map you should be able to give an accurate or at least fairly accurate location. This will dramatically speed up a rescue.
Go on a 1st Aid course - this isn’t winter specific advice, just a good idea for all of us to do and a very important life skill.
Thanks for reading, I hope this is of some help.
We have some availability during November and would be delighted to arrange walking or activities days for you. The weather is currently very settled too. Check out what we offer here.
Mark
Near Black Fell on a glorious day - Winter Walking in the Lake District
Above Grasmere - Winter Walking in the Lake District