In reply to maddiechambers:
I hope you are ready for an avalanche of encyclopaedic replies from ukc!
> (This is my first time posting, so apologies if I'm not doing this correctly!)
> I'm looking to get started climbing some munros in winter conditions, and I'm looking for some advice/answers to questions.
> - What rating should I go for for a winter boot for Scottish climates? B2 seems to be most common, and if so, has anyone got recommendations for boots that aren't super expensive (under £250...)?
> - Advice on buying crampons, ice axes (are ice axes needed if I'm just getting into it?)
Assuming you want to walk, you need a walking axe and only one of them. Any reasonable outdoor store should be able to give you one the right length (depends on your height). There is only a point in having one though if you can use it to stop yourself sliding when you fall. If you can't ice-axe arrest, stick to walks at an easy angle and use walking poles.
You can learn to ice-axe arrest yourself - get the basics from youtube and head out (probably with a friend) to somewhere SAFE to practice. I.e. a steep slope with no rocks and a big flat area of snow at the bottom.
In terms of crampons and boots, if you are walking, you really only need b1 boots and walking crampons. You might even find your summer boots are already up to the job. BUT this assumes you are not getting onto steep snow slopes or difficult terrain. In practical terms, I can't think of many Munroes outside of the Cuillin where you would need to get on steep and difficult terrain if you ascend by an easy route. Also I would say that as a beginner you should definitely not be anywhere that B2/3 boots and dual axes are needed on your own - that's winter soloing and it's a very different kettle of fish. I use C1 crampons on what are almost certainly B0 boots and it actually functions as a pretty good warning system because if purchase on the snow slope starts to get sketchy, it's a sign I'm heading into terrain that is too steep.
> - Any good munros to start on? (I'm a pretty proficient hill-walker and can do grade 1/2 scrambles)
Literally hundreds
Wait, I can be more helpful - look at a map. From the contours it's pretty easy to see ridges which gently slope up and offer you an easy and steady way to the summit. e.g. Ben Lawers, Mount Keen, the Cairnwell, Cairn Aosta, etc. etc. (though it has to be said, the easy ones are also boring ones :P )
> - Any books that I could also get information from?
Again, hundreds. Honestly though, in the age of the internet, I would have a look at Youtube for learning specific skills (assuming you don't want to pay for a course which would be a much better option when it comes to learning well and quickly - somewhere like Glenmore Lodge do lots of courses, you are looking for something based on "winter skills").
> - Literally any tips, for someone that climbs a lot of hills I feel very out my depth thinking about doing it in winter...
1) Make sure you can navigate. Or at the very least, make sure that you can re-trace your steps back down if you get out of your depth. Nav is much harder when the whole land is covered in white.
2) Beware of cornices when on a ridge - don't walk close to the edge (well, any edge actually!).
3) Start small - do a mountain you know first. Do things where nav is very easy next. Leave the Cairngorm plateau for a bit later on.
4) Headtorch.
5) Go out with a friend. All the better if they have a bit of experience you can learn from.
6) Keep an eye on conditions, if it's getting late or too wet/cold/windy/misty, put your ego in a box and just start back down. In time you will develop a subconscious warning feeling which will tip you off that things are going bad but to begin with you need to evaluate very consciously.
7) Check the avalanche information service before heading out each trip and take it seriously.
> Thank you in advance!! Appreciate any and every bit of advice