Established in 1992 Talisman Mountaineering | Cairngorm Guides | Aviemore specialise in winter skills, climbing and guiding in the Cairngorms. This is a day to day OR monthly diary of what we get up to on our courses and the winter conditions in the Scottish mountains...!
Weekend and 5 day winter skills and winter mountaineering courses, snow-hole expeditions and guided winter climbing based in Aviemore in the Cairngorms.
Spaces still available on our Christmas 2019 and New Year 2020 Winter Skills courses based in Aviemore in the Cairngorm mountains in Scotland.
The winter solstice and the official astronomical start of the proper winter.
With slippy verglassed gravel and rock on the approach paths but with nice weather and exceptional snow ice in the gullies and grooves once in the corries it was nigh on perfect for winter climbing!
The snow ice was so good you could almost climb anywhere so we did our own multiple variations of Spiral Gully linking little icy grooves and ledges from the left of Spiral Gully to the left of Fluted and moving together we climbed the route in two pitches.
We had first time secure axe placements and clear gear cracks and this together with a low avalanche risk provided relaxed and really enjoyable winter climbing for the shortest time of year!
Lot more photos on our Facebook page and a short YouTube video at https://youtu.be/dH5Kq8MG1mU
With snow falling in the Scottish mountains and the recent winter climbing action it's time to think about practising the essential Winter Skills as we head into Xmas and the New Year.
We only have a couple of places left on our New Year Winter Skills course starting on the 3rd January 2019 so if thinking of a course, make sure you book your place soon!
A stunning start to the winter season and a chance to check out the snow cover on our local hills for winter skills, climbing and skiing - cover is surprisingly good :-)
Now the snow has arrived in the Scottish mountains a quick heads up to say that the winter skills course date calendar for 2018-2019 can be viewed and booked online via our website at https://www.talisman-activities.co.uk/dates
With valley temperatures rising to the early teens and winds gusting 100 mph, we headed up high for a day digging snow shelters and looking at snow belays. It was a long hike up but we were rewarded for the effort. We were completely sheltered and the deep snow drifts surprisingly deep, firm and extensive - the guys had fun digging!
Looking for that special Christmas 2015/2016 gift?
We offer a range of Xmas gift vouchers that can be redeemed towards the cost of a day's guiding, winter skills, mountaineering or climbing course.
A nice surprise - Fi's just received an email from Carron saying that our advanced Winter Mountaineering course get a mention in the latest issue 23 of Trek & Mountain magazine.
A PDF of Scottish Winter Skills article can now be viewed here (3.31 Mb).
We're running several of these courses throughout the winter season into Easter 2012 including this Christmas and New Year.
We still have a couple of places available on the 27th-31st December 2011 and on the 2nd-6th January 2012 as well as places on the five day intro Winter Skills courses.
