Mountain Aid are again organising a series of free winter talks this November entitled “Walking in a Winter Wonderland”. The speaker, Mick Tighe, is a qualified mountain guide of long standing and was for many years, the Training Officer for Scottish Mountain Rescue. The talks will be based in university venues but are open to all.
The organisers say that these talks are aimed at those who are used to summer hill walking and want to continue to enjoy Scottish mountains in winter conditions. Mick’s talks have many illustrations of the splendours of the hills in winter, but also include some of the more gruesome incidents in which he has been involved and the chance to learn lessons from these. Each evening, which is usually about 90 minutes long, will end with a Question & Answer session, a situation in which Mountain Aid says Mick revels, as it gives him the opportunity to draw on a vast collection of amusing anecdotes to help get his message across.
Monday 16 November: Edinburgh’s Merlin in Morningside, EH10 4PU at 7.30pm
Tuesday 17 November: Room A5 Cottrell Building in Stirling University, FK9 4LA at 7.00pm
Wednesday 18 November: Dalhousie Lecture Theatre 2 in Dundee University, DD1 4HN at 7.30pm
Thursday 19 November: Room D141 in University of West of Scotland, Paisley, PA1 2BE at 7.30pm
Mountain Aid are also organising a series of Practical Winter Skills Courses in January & February 2016 in the Cairngorms and/or Nevis Range. Those attending will receive basic training and practical tips on using ice axes, fitting crampons to boots and on other equipment vital in winter. As yet details have not been finalised, but Mountain Aid hope to have dates available and take bookings at the above talks in November and will be available on a “first come – first served basis” to 24 people. Mountain Aid would like to emphasise that the training is brief and basis and the charity urges those who found the courses beneficial, to consider the advantages of the more comprehensive training offered by a range of guides and organisations in Scotland.