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It’s a real high to climb a mountain on your skis and then speed down when you get to the top. It’s a much smoother and more THE HIGH LIFE efficient way of hiking up and Mountain skiing on down a wintry peak. . The sport’s popularity has boomed

iking to the top of ’s H mountains offers many rewards – but skiing uphill on a thick blanket of snow is even better. Thanks to mountaineering skis which are fitted with nonslip detachable skins, it’s possible to glide to the top of the highest peaks. Then, with the skins removed, skiers simply turn around and whizz back downhill again. Hand-held ski poles aid progress uphill and add to the all-round-body workout. Nick Etheridge, of G2 Outdoor , is a Scottish ski mountaineering guide. He said: “Most people find that hiking uphill in deep snow is pretty exhausting. “But with mountaineering skis and skins, journeying in the winter mountains is so much smoother and more efficient. Once you get the hang of it, ski mountaineering can take you to so many more remote and scenic places.” In recent years, many more outdoor adventurers have been enjoying the freestyle possibilities of ski SKI CLIMBING? mountaineering. Split-boards, used by snowboarders, are It can‘‘ also popular. They split into skis take you for the uphill and THINGS ARE becomes a board for to more the downhill. Mountain Spirit, a remote mountaineering ski and shop in Aviemore, reports that demand LOOKING UP for hire and sale of scenic the equipment is growing fast. places Owner Rob Edmonds said: Gorm and Ben MacDui – in one day. I my spirits soaring. But be warned, while “In the last four quickly mastered how to walk uphill with off-piste skiing can be both calming and to five years, there has been much more a stepping and gliding rhythm. thrilling, it is far more challenging than interest in mountaineering skiing. The skins allowed the skis to on groomed slopes and requires a “We are hiring out and selling far more slide forward, which prevented any reasonable level of fitness. kit than ever before.” backward slip. Boot heels are also Ski mountaineering can also be He reckons the biggest attraction is the unclipped from the skis so you can take hazardous and it is vital that newcomers desire for more freedom in the great sliding steps upwards. to ski mountaineering go with a guide or outdoors. Rob said: “Many people are Guided by an expert skiing friend, the experienced ski tourer. already downhill skiers and want to head 600m or so ascent of from the Nick said: “Exploring Scotland on off to explore the back country. lower car park at the Cairngorm mountaineering skis is fantastic but the “They are keen to escape the resorts FIONA Mountain Ski Centre flew by. mountains can be dangerous. and the more crowded groomed pistes. RUSSELL I enjoyed sliding smoothly over the top “Skiers must be avalanche-aware and “For other people, ski mountaineering of the snow instead of hiking up to my know how to navigate by map and offers a chance to reach Scotland’s knees in the stuff. compass, as well as GPS. mountain summits in winter without the Better still, when we reached downhill “The beauty of Scotland, in one respect, arduous hike.” sections, I was able to remove the skins, is that you can learn so much about the Despite being new to the cross-country clip the boot heels securely and descend weather and snow conditions because style of skiing, I was able to summit two of swiftly by skiing normally. they are so changeable. Scotland’s highest mountains – Cairn Skiing uphill offered more time for “Then, once you know the skills and looking around at the fabulous wintry techniques, you have a fabulous new scenery – and the sense of freedom sent outdoor playground to explore in winter.” Leading Scottish ■ Try ski mountaineering with: G2 Outdoor, see www. ■ Di Gilbert Mountaineering, see www.digilbert.co.uk landscape photographer g2outdoor.co.uk ■ Kit hire, Mountain Spirit, Aviemore, www.mountainspirit.co.uk Colin Prior tells us about Try it ■ Glencoe Mountain, see www.glencoemountain.co.uk/ ■ Five places to go ski mountaineering : Spittal of Glenshee, a spectacular view from and Arkle, Loch with: cour ses.html Blairgowrie, Drumochter Hills, southern Highlands, ■ Glenmore Lodge, see www.glenmorelodge.org.uk Monadhliath massif, near Newtonmore, The Pentland Hills, Stack, Sutherland. ■ Wilderness Scotland, see www.wildernessscotland.com Lurchers Gully, .