Highgate’s popular outdoor education programme includes a ‘Winter Skills’ trip every January, for Senior School pupils to tackle the mountains in winter conditions. Director of Outdoor Education, Mr Blackshaw, reports on this year’s exhilarating trip:
On Thursday 2 January, an intrepid group of Sixth Formers set off for the Cairngorms for Highgate’s annual winter skills trip. The forecast was looking promising, almost too promising…so it was with nervous excitement that we started the long drive to Aviemore in hopeful anticipation of an excellent few days.
Upon arrival in Aviemore there was snow on the ground in town – a very good sign. After dinner, kit checks and briefings, we got an early night ahead of a big day in the mountains the following day.
On Day 1 we went into Coire an-t Scneachda beneath Cairn Gorm. In here we found a mixture of snow and ice, the perfect terrain to practice the basics of using ice axes and crampons and moving on that type of terrain. The group practised a range of skills and we extended our journey over into the ski areas to get some fitness into the legs ahead of a bigger day on Saturday.
Saturday dawned clear and cold – perfect for a big day in the mountains. Ascending onto the Cairngorm plateau, we were treated to spectacular views around the whole of the Cairngorms, across to the sea and the mountains of the West Coast. We ascended over Carn Lochan, Coire an-t Sneachda and finally up onto the 1245m summit of Cairn Gorm itself which we gained just as the sun was starting to get low in the sky – the perfect end to a perfect Scottish winter day.
The final day was, unbelievably, just as glorious weather wise. We returned to Sneachda as the group was keen to take advantage of the conditions and get as much learning done as possible. We found some steep icy slabs to practice ice climbing and some steep snowbanks to practice snowcraft techniques such as digging bucket seats, building ice axe belays and even abseiling off a snow bollard!
This was undoubtedly the best conditions we have had on a winter skills trip, and it was amazing to see how much the pupils learned and progressed.
Verity in Y12 said: “Going on winter skills reminded me of everything that’s important outside the school year – beautiful mountains, challenging yourself to learn new skills, and spending fun times with an unlikely group of people. The group spirit of adventure and encouragement couldn’t have been a better feeling in the most magical place. I’ve come into the new year not only fortunate enough to have learnt so many things about walking and climbing in a winter environment, but also with the hunger for even more expeditions in the future.”
Alex in Y13 added: “Having gone last year and loved it, I had high expectations for a week of winter skills in the Highlands, and it’s safe to say I was not disappointed! Both the environment and the experiences were great – ice axe climbing, snow belaying, and hiking across beautiful snowy mountains – I’m very glad that I could take part.”
Mr Blackshaw talks more about our wider Outdoor Education programme here.
