Mountaineering experts are teaming up to ensure that people heading for Scotland’s winter hills and mountains can have easy access to the right information and advice.

The following is advice we found pulled together on the Developing Mountain in Scotland website as specific advice for mountain bikers riding in the winter.

Although we live in the information age, it can sometimes feel like the information overload age, with an abundance of advice and tips available, some of which are contradictory and much of which is well-meaning but may be inappropriate or simply wrong – and potentially dangerously so.

To tackle the information tangle, Scotland’s leading mountain skills and safety organisations have joined forces for a fourth #ThinkWINTER campaign to direct people to the most relevant sources of advice on winter hiking, mountaineering, mountain biking, and ski/snowboard touring in Scotland and make it available free of charge to all who require it.

The joint venture between Mountaineering Scotland, Scottish Mountain Rescue, Glenmore Lodge, Mountain Training Scotland, Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland and Snowsport Scotland, aims to cut through the confusion and provide a trusted and reliable source that everyone can access.

Throughout the winter season, information, advice, and tips will be shared through social media posts using the hashtag #ThinkWINTER as well as on the organisations’ websites and through a series of talks and online events.

With the right kit, preparation, and advice, winter riding can be fun and rewarding.

But before you ride in winter, you need to be well prepared. If something goes wrong, with freezing temperatures and limited daylight hours, an incident, even fairly close to home, can become life-threatening.

Here are some handy tips to think about before you embark on your winter riding adventure.

Think about the weather and where to ride

In Scotland, the weather can change very quickly and it is not unusual to encounter rain/sleet/snow/wind/sunshine all on the same day.

The weather, both the forecast for the day and the recent weather conditions, should affect your choice of route. Trails can become badly damaged if used after heavy spells of rain – so if you do choose to ride them you will have spoiled them for yourself, other riders and other trail users – think about switching to sustainable hardpack trail centre trails until the temperatures really dip and the trails firm up.

Check out mountain weather forecasts; temperatures can change dramatically as you head higher up into the hills and wind chill can easily drop the ‘feels like’ temperature down 10 degrees C or more.

Know your escape route and have a Plan B

Look at your route and try to work out where you could take an alternative or head back if the trails are too wet or obstructed, eg fallen trees, or the weather deteriorates.

And while out and about remember that bad weather can sneak in earlier than you expect!

Pack a bag

Be ready for the worst that winter can throw at you.

It will be useful to take

• a multi-tool
• extra food & water
• first aid kit including foil blanket
• emergency shelter
• pump
• spare inner tube
• Co2
• chain link
• map (& for more remote routes a compass)
• spare clothes including extra gloves
• a beanie
• neck tube and
• for remote rides, bring a down jacket/gilet that can be compressed

Hypothermia can and does kill. People can deteriorate very quickly in a winter environment. Managing a hypothermic casualty is challenging so check out the signs and symptoms so you can hope to recognise them in you and your group early on.

A mobile phone is essential. We would recommend bringing an extra battery pack as mobile phones are affected considerably by the cold.

Lights – we can easily be caught out by the onset of darkness – navigating your way from the top of the hill in darkness, is not fun.

We would also encourage you to pack an emergency shelter – vital to keep you and friends or injured party safe until emergency services get to you or that mechanical is sorted.

Remember, batteries can be seriously affected by the cold and touch screen phones may not work if your fingers are chilled so while always essential, consider what would happen if you can’t get the phone to work.

It’s not only batteries that can be temperamental in the cold; your bike can too. Water sneaking into moving parts can freeze and cause your bike to let you down.

If you are using a bladder pack for water, the water in the tube can freeze and that is annoying at best but dehydration even in the winter when you don’t think you are sweating can reduce your performance and cognitive skills.

Tell someone where you are riding

This especially applies if you are riding alone. Let someone know your route and when you intend to return. This can just be a quick text to your ‘late back’ person. Simply giving the trails you intend to ride and the rough time it should take you. If you do not contact them within a half-hour of that time, they should start calling you. If there is no reply after an agreed time – your ‘late back’ person should be contacting the emergency services. Make sure they know how to do this and who to call! Do not go straight to café/pub and forget to let your ‘late back’ person you are ok. This is an easy habit to get into and could save your life.

Consider first aid training

Think about doing a first aid training course. First aid training isn’t just for professionals or mountain bike leaders – we all need to know the basics. If you are out riding with others and someone has an accident, you would want to know how best to help them. First Aid courses are happening all year – right across the country.

If an emergency occurs follow these simple steps from Mountaineering Scotland and Scottish Mountain Rescue:

• Stay calm. Take time to assess the situation and decide what to do.
• Check that you, the casualty and group aren't in immediate danger. If you are, seek to make the situation safe.
• If anyone is injured, remember ABC – airway, breathing and circulation (look for signs of life or blood loss)
• Treat any injuries (remember the first principle: ‘do no harm’)
• Insulate the casualty from the ground, add extra clothing. Place any unconscious casualties in the recovery position. Determine your exact position on the map and consider the options for either descending to safety, finding shelter, staying put or seeking help.
• Try to conserve mobile battery life by having all the details to hand before phoning for help. A list of the details needed is shown above.
• If there is no mobile coverage at your location, consider whether it might be worth moving to another location to phone from.
• If all other forms of communication fail, the internationally recognised emergency signals are six blasts on the whistle or six torch flashes repeated every minute.

Register with emergency SMS service

Register with the emergency SMS Service. Send the word ‘register’ to 999 and once registered you can use this service in case of poor phone signal. Your message should include which emergency service you need, e.g, mountain rescue, what the injury or incident is and your grid reference. Don’t assume the emergency services have received your text until you get a reply.

Here is an example of a good text (source MountainSafety.co.uk)

And finally - along with making sure your map reading skills are current, we would recommend downloading a location app such as OS Locate. It can help give you a location quickly and easily.

Trusted information sources for winter mountaineering include:

General mountaineering information:

www.mountaineering.scot/activities/thinkwinter – our guide to planning, decision making, equipment, winter skills and more.

Skills courses and training:

Mountaineering Scotland: www.mountaineering.scot/safety-and-skills/courses-and-events/courses

Glenmore Lodge: www.glenmorelodge.org.uk/winter-mountain/

Mountain Training’s winter qualifications: Winter Mountain Leader, Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor. More info: www.mountain-training.org

Avalanche and weather information:

Scottish Avalanche Information Service: www.sais.gov.uk/

Mountain Weather Information Service: www.mwis.org.uk/

Met Office mountain forecasts: www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/specialist-forecasts/mountain

Information about Mountain Rescue:

www.scottishmountainrescue.org/

For advice on calling for assistance from Mountain Rescue, see: https://www.mountaineering.scot/safety-and-skills/essential-skills/mountain-rescue/calling-for-help

Read: 11 times Published: 07/12/2021