I'm heading for the Cairngorms to do some winter walking next month for the first time.
As I'm very new to walking I would like to avoid some of the expense that goes with investing in all the winter kit until I know I'm going to stick with it.
Is anyone looking to off load a couple of ice-axes and pairs of crampons cheapily? I don't mind about aesthetics, they just need to do what it says on the tin. I've seen some very cheap crampons on ebay and the net but don't trust them - if it looks to good to be true etc?... In terms of Crampons just looking at C1 crampons.
Does anyone have any advice about using Petzl Charlet Crab 6 crampons in the current conditions?
Any help or pointers gratefully received by this novice.
Buy a proper axe for hiking. Not the short models for iceclimbing in waterfalls. They are too short for support during hiking and making steps in ice is more difficult with a short one. Furthermore short ice axes are too short for using it as an snow anchor for a rope.
Agree with Sean there, just done a winter skills course for two days, totally essential with hindsight and only had the crampons on for just over an hour which was quite surprising considering the slopes we were on.
The two days, with 3 nights accomodation was just £133 - OutdoorsMagic winter skills course that seems to be run every winter by Iain Gallagher. Maybe it would be wise to hire an axe and crampons in Aviemore and get a days tuition in the mountains itself...
Excellent recommendations all, thank you so much!!! It really helps knowing what the options are. If the conditions are right I'd love to do a mountains skills course. Have taken a look at Mountain Spirit website and it looks great.
I ahve some Stubai 6 point spikes (long spikes like crampons) that lash onto your boots. They are not crampons but i found them useful to use before i invested in my Grivels.
They may be ideal, depends on where you intend to go.
Nina - if you're looking for somewhere good to stay, I can recommend Fraoch Lodge. It's a b&b and bunkhouse run by two mountain guides who also do courses, so it's the sort of place you could stay for a few days, maybe get a day's instruction or guided walking if you fancied, borrow equipment and get plenty of advice about routes and conditions.
