Christmas Cracker: Winter Essentials DVD

Today's Christmas Cracker is a timely one for anyone planning to head out into the hills this winter in the form of the BMC's Winter Essentials DVD.

It would be very easy to make a hideously dry, boring, winter skills video, but to a large extent, specialist climbing film outfit Slackjaw, who made the film for the British Mountaineering Council, have avoided this pitfall.

They've managed this by dividing the DVD into two sections. The main 40-minute documentary follows a group of climbers and mountaineers on a day above Glencoe. The climbers tackle the classic Twisting Gully grade III winter route, while the walkers traverse Stob Coirre Nan Lochain. The film follows them and the voiceover talks about the decisions they're making and the hazards around them.

The narrative was never likely to be dramatically gripping but the combination of chilled music and beautiful terrain makes it a good way of covering the basics in a very watchable way.

The second element of the DVD is made up of 80 minutes of assorted skills instruction broken down into obvious areas like ice axes, crampons, self-arrest, avalanche awareness and so on. They're a little dry and you'll need to get out and practice, or even better, get professional instruction, but taken together, they comprise a comprehensive guide to the equipment and skills needed on the hills in winter.

Priced at £12.99 or £10 if you're a BMC nmember, you can buy the Winter Essentials DVD at www.thebmc.co.uk. Top gift for anyone planning to get wintery....