Brass Monkeys: 'Winter Trippin'

So through the winter we all get two winter trips. One at the start of the winter and one nearing the end. Each trip lasts for six days and they are a good chance to get off base, see some more of the island out of the normal travel areas and also gain more practise in rope work, climbing and general life out in the field in temperatures of down to -20 degrees Centigrade.

For my winter trip i opted to go skiing and climbing. We were very lucky with the weather and only had one day of lie up. It was just far to windy and the contrast was too poor to drive the Skidoo's in. As there are crevasses all around you need, good contrast to move from the campsite. Above is Roger my Field General Assistant for the week and myself setting up our Pyramid tent.

The tents are heated by the use of Tilly lanterns. These lamps run off paraffin and are very effective at heating the tent and providing bright enough light to read and cook under.

Roger half way up Trident one of many Mountain peaks which we climbed. When climbing we are always linked together via a harness and rope. We both carry a 'rack' on our harness which has things like slings, pulleys and screw gates on. These are essential bits of equipment needed to pull your climbing partner out of a crevasse if the unfortunate happens.

All the Skidoo's had to be covered with specially made tarpaulins so that the engines didn't get filled in by the blowing snow as this can cause a big problem.

On our penultimate day we climbed up Orca, a peak on the way back to base. This was the massive wind scoop which could be found and the base of the peak. Caused by the naturally Northerly blowing winds scouring the snow and ice from around it. The snow can be very abrasive when combined with the power of the wind. The scoop was at least 30 metres deep.

The very top of Orca required us to climb up a very steep piece of loose rock. But is was all worth it when we got to the top. The descent was a lot more fun. Absailing down about 50 metres of sheer rock with a 400 metre drop below off the edge.

Liz and Rob had a three man Pyramid tent in which we all congregated in, on the evenings for a drop of Whisky, Port, Wine and anything alcoholic which was on offer.

The tents lit up by the Tilly lanterns look so magical when the sun goes down.

A snow flake perfectly formed

At the top of Gwendaline. The first mountain that we climbed. As there are no ski lifts here we have to climb the conventional way to the top. We has ski's with bindings which release at the heel and pivot on the toe. Then we fit skins to the bottom of the ski's. These skins allow you to slide forward in the snow but they then grip so you can essentially slide forward up the mountain without sliding backwards. This is actually a sport called 'Ski Mountaineering'
It took us about four hours to get to the top and then about half an hour to ski down in the most amazing powder. For a minute i thought i was back at a ski resort in Europe!