The thought of winter tramping conjures images of short daylight hours, cold temperatures, wet weather and dull light – all negative thoughts. I find it useful, however, to reframe these supposed disadvantages as advantages, so that the idea of winter tramping provides opportunities, not barriers.
Take the cold, for example. As the Scots say, ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes.’ Good clothing and sound planning can mitigate the risk of hypothermia and exposure. When the elements are at their most extreme, we really appreciate the fundamental basics like warmth and shelter. There is nothing like the comfort of dry clothes, a warm hut, a hot drink and sitting around glowing embers appreciating the lingering dusk. Crawling into a sleeping bag after a wind-harassed day is…
