Winter hiking and Hillwalking tips to keep safe

1. Have a permit and permission - check your route for this in advance

2. Know people’s experience, ability and limits to make it achievable

We're all different when it comes to experience, stamina and abilities and those of us with disabilities need to have then taken into account.

3. Follow any provided kit lists

Guidance on what you need is often available and in scouts you'll be given it

4. Check the weather before you go

5. Wear bright colours to be visible

Dark colours merge at a distance into the landscape so if your jacket isn't bright do wear reflective material on you such as rucksacks so you can be spotted.

6. Clothing to keep you warm and the importance of layers

There are three layers, base, intemediate such as a fleece and outer such as rainproof jacket and keep extras on you.

7. Know your gear and its limitations so you use the most appropriate for the conditions.

Not all outdoor gear is made for every task

8. Start earlier in the morning to get home when it’s light

9. Take a paper map and compass, then practice reading it mobile phone signals can go apart from finding your battery is flat.

10. Tell someone where you’re going and how long you expect to be

11. Stay hydrated and take emergency rations

Because you expect to be out a few hours doesn't mean you shouldn't allow for any kind of emergency and all of this will fit in your rucksack.

12. Light up the way and keep a torch or in some situations a headlamp on you

13. Go with someone else or a group

Apart from the company extra bods are a back up for advance or even getting help in an emergency

14. Always know what to do in an emergency on any hillwalking activity

Out in the wood

 

To say it has been pretty cold is something of an understatement being very well wrapped up  from top to bottom but let it be said it takes a lot to stop me being out exploring even facing down bad experiences from the past.

On a very frosty and icy Thursday morning I ventured out taking my time walking given I'm not very steady on my feet coming out of one near miss losing my balance to get to the woods.

That was because I could hear a lot of birdsong from all over and while making my way there saw a good number of birds about.

I saw these two pigeons and steadying myself and the camera, I took this picture on a very sunny morning.

Outdoor reflections this winter

 

Been a fairly cold week or so here so have been well wrapped up but outdoors watching the squirrels at play and even treated to extended birdsong this morning while out in my new duffle coat Paddington style in the local woods exploring.

Of course around here it's not only in the woods and up in the nest towards the tops of the trees that you'll find life.

Take these four ducks for instance part of massive group swimming about on the canal where incidnetly there are the odd moored narrowboats to be found.

They're having a great time outdoors.

Why shouldn't we?

Enjoying the snow

The Winter Scout is out exploring in the snow and to be honest I'd say right now  "I so wish" because it's not snowing so much as it is a degree above freezing and very icy which isn't much good for me whereas thick powdery snow is fine for me to be out in.

Modern Winter's tend to be less cold probably connected with climate change and the warming up in the last fifteen to twenty years compared with those in my youth and it has lead to more of this less good and less 'clear the air' winter temperatures killing bugs off weather we're having.