Michael Kinsella

I took part in a winter skills weekend training course in Scotland in a group of 6. We were late arriving at the b&b due to airport issues but Dave still had a warm welcome waiting for us. After an excellent breakfast our 2 instructors for the day joined us for a coffee and a talk about the day ahead. Dave’s hallway turned into a temporary outdoor store as harness’, boots, crampons & waterproofs were dispersed and checked. With bags packed with the required gear, our instructors drove us to our training location. We spent the day learning to survive in snow and ice and windy conditions. We ended the day with a cup of tea in an igloo, even though I don’t think it was designed for 8 people at one time. Back at the b&b, we dumped all our damp gear and equipment in Dave’s hallway in exchange for a warm cup of tea and picked it up the next morning all dry and ready for another days adventure. On our second day there was 3 guides so there was the opportunity for 3 separate tailored training events. I chose to focus on absailing and also spent a few hours in the indoor ice wall. Adele was brilliant with her 2 students on the day and taught us a lot and gave us some great tips for our future trips. We all met back at Dave’s b&b for a hot cup of tea and a debrief from our instructors while enjoying the last few minutes of the rugby match. It was a fantastic weekend and one I will definitely repeat again.