Ski Mountaineering

With the highest peaks in the UK towering above you Lochaber is the perfect place to experience this fast-growing sport.

Being able to escape the ski piste and explore secluded slopes makes it easy to find peace, adventure and excitement. Modern ski-mountaineering equipment lets you travel up hills, along flat plateaux and down the steepest slopes. 

Technique

To climb up hills, the heel binding is released to allow the boot to hinge at the toe. Then gripping skins are stuck to the bases of the skis to provide traction. Once you master the knack of a rhythmical gliding walk, uphill travel becomes relatively easy. Before you know it, you’re at the summit! Then remove the skins and fix the heels down – this turns your skis into modern Alpine downhill skis ready for the thrill of the descent!

Where and when can I ski?

Snow regularly covers the hills down to very low altitudes in Lochaber but often with little warning. If there is a good cover down to the road you can traverse whole ranges of hills without ever taking your skis off. There are some very high access points in Lochaber that makes it easy to reach the snowline. If snow is restricted to the tops the two local ski areas,Glencoe and Nevis Range, give easy access to the summits. Whatever the snow conditions you’re guaranteed to find wide open spaces with nobody else there to carve up the snow except you.

Useful Links:

• Nevis Range Mountain Resort
• Glencoe Mountain Resort