Well snow often turns the grown men and women I know into teenage Take That fans at the announcement of their thankful split, unfortunately they got back together when the bank was dry. My problem with snow though is that whilst it excites it can bring out utter idiots. Year ago winter conditions meant winter condition, snow, ice, neve the whole works. This weekend before I left North Wales that had the most beautiful but essentially useless for climbing covering of Snow. That got the people out in droves, I am sure that V12 and Joe Brown’s sold enough ice axes and crampons to keep them smiling.
Interestingly though after a bit of a brought of rescues there was at least three callout this weekend, and that’s just with a few inches of Snow.
What i was amazed with, which isn’t the rush to the hills, as being in snow is great, it is the expectation that at the first sign of snow, conditions will be ‘in’. I am sure I will rant about this more over the winter, but essentially only a sprinkling of snow has fallen, its day two of the cold snap, it ain’t winter condition yet, so sure take yourself up the hill, enjoy the view, but be realistic. I saw a few people with full on ice climbing gear over the weekend.
WTF is that about, get real. Back in the day mixed climbing required Rime, now all it needs is a spattering of snow. If thats right why bother waiting why not just dry tool cenotaph corner in shorts and a T-shirt next summer and be done with it! Winter Climbing the clue is in the name, and it doesn’t happen over night.
Anyway as you can see the snow has got me excited!