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Rating: 
- A unique blend of reference text and inspiration
This book sets out to fill a several niches and succeeds admirably!
The background to current Scottish Winter Mountaineering is comprehensively covered: sections deal with the shaping of the mountains through geology and glaciation, weather and snow conditions, and the history of the sport's development from its beginnings in Victorian times.
It also provides a wealth of information on the techniques needed to successfully practise all aspects of winter mountaineering in The Highlands: walking, snow, ice and mixed climbing, and ski touring. The chapters on mixed climbing and skiing, which are not The Author's specialities, were contributed by acknowledged leaders in these fields. The Author could probably have 'got away' with writing these chapters himself: that he did not is a good indication of his commitment to quality.
Simply to have covered the background and techniques as well as he has is enough to earn a five star rating. However, this is enriched with a wealth of personal recollections and excerpts from various books and journals, some gently humorous. These sections give a feel for the experience of Scottish Winter Mountaineering and add greatly to the book's power to inspire the reader to 'get out there and do it'.
The photographs used are of a high standard and diagrams are used to good effect. Again these augment the inspirational qualities of the book as well as being informative.
I've had this book for quite a few years now and it's been one of the main catalysts to my development as a mountaineer. The Scottish winter mountaineering novice will find this book of immense value, but even the experienced practitioner will find it a worthwhile addition to their library, if not for inspiration and escapism it provides, then simply as a standard text.
Rating: - Indispensible for winter hill walkers and skiers
Covering all the skills required by the Scottish Winter hill walker or ski-ier, including detailed and comprehensive information on navigation, snow (types, recognising avalanche risk) and weather, this book is written by a local (Moran is based in Ross-Shire).
Of particular interest is how local weather patterns affect the build up of conditions; armed with this book you can watch the freeze-thaw cycle unwind at a distance, wait for the events that precede a period of calm, cold perfection and then take full advantage of it.
Moran is an accomplished alpinist with both alpine and himalayan first ascents, but the Scottish winter hills seem to hold a particular attraction for him - something anyone with first hand experience of these mountains in full winter conditions will understand.
- A unique blend of reference text and inspirationThis book sets out to fill a several niches and succeeds admirably!
The background to current Scottish Winter Mountaineering is comprehensively covered: sections deal with the shaping of the mountains through geology and glaciation, weather and snow conditions, and the history of the sport's development from its beginnings in Victorian times.
It also provides a wealth of information on the techniques needed to successfully practise all aspects of winter mountaineering in The Highlands: walking, snow, ice and mixed climbing, and ski touring. The chapters on mixed climbing and skiing, which are not The Author's specialities, were contributed by acknowledged leaders in these fields. The Author could probably have 'got away' with writing these chapters himself: that he did not is a good indication of his commitment to quality.
Simply to have covered the background and techniques as well as he has is enough to earn a five star rating. However, this is enriched with a wealth of personal recollections and excerpts from various books and journals, some gently humorous. These sections give a feel for the experience of Scottish Winter Mountaineering and add greatly to the book's power to inspire the reader to 'get out there and do it'.
The photographs used are of a high standard and diagrams are used to good effect. Again these augment the inspirational qualities of the book as well as being informative.
I've had this book for quite a few years now and it's been one of the main catalysts to my development as a mountaineer. The Scottish winter mountaineering novice will find this book of immense value, but even the experienced practitioner will find it a worthwhile addition to their library, if not for inspiration and escapism it provides, then simply as a standard text.
Rating:
- Indispensible for winter hill walkers and skiersCovering all the skills required by the Scottish Winter hill walker or ski-ier, including detailed and comprehensive information on navigation, snow (types, recognising avalanche risk) and weather, this book is written by a local (Moran is based in Ross-Shire).
Of particular interest is how local weather patterns affect the build up of conditions; armed with this book you can watch the freeze-thaw cycle unwind at a distance, wait for the events that precede a period of calm, cold perfection and then take full advantage of it.
Moran is an accomplished alpinist with both alpine and himalayan first ascents, but the Scottish winter hills seem to hold a particular attraction for him - something anyone with first hand experience of these mountains in full winter conditions will understand.