February 7, 2026
Plenty of snow and a cold south-easterly wind awaited the Team for our Caringorms training in the techniques and skills required to rescue in full-on winter conditions. Saturday was spent working in groups with professional winter mountaineering instructors, refreshing safe movement on steep snow-covered ground and practising snow belaying techniques. On Sunday we tackled two scenarios. The first involved a search, following an avalanche, for buried items utilising transceivers and probes, and once located safey digging out with shovels. The second involved lowering a casualty in a stretcher down a snow slope using in turn both twin rope and back rope systems, and utilising a variety of snow anchors. Note the line of bucket seats down the slope! A great weekend: we trained hard, and after hours played hard! A big thank you to the three wonderful Friends of the Team, who catered for us royally over the weekend. And to Cranstons Butcher + Maker for support with provisions. Thanks also to Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team for covering our patch whilst most of us were out of area.
