Colin1951 wrote:Welcome aboard!
There’s a school of thought that there’s no such thing as winter hillwalking in Scotland, only winter mountaineering, that’s to do with the weather, the snow conditions, the visibilty and the avalanche risk. Ben Nevis is not a hill to learn winter mountaineering on, if you fancy being out in winter you’d be better building up experience with other folk on some of the Southern Highlands’ well trodden Munros and Corbetts. That way you’ll get back down in one piece….
Ben Ledi and Ben Vorlich are good winter starters.
I agree with the above, start on something much simpler; the Ben is no place for newbies to learn winter mountaineering. Join a club so you are out with others and can glean information from those more experienced than yourself. Look on the internet for mountaineering clubs near you. Ski areas like Glen Shee, Glen Coe and Aonach Mor (now called Nevis Ranges) have good road access, lots of people about if you get in trouble and handy cafes, toilets etc. so are good for getting a taste of winter conditions without throwing yourself into a potentially fatal situation.
- Carn Mhor Dearg and Ben Nevis