Scottish Winter Skills - RAB funded places and a collaboration with Black Girls Hike

We are proud to be supported by Rab UK and as part of the financial support we were able to offer funded places on our Intro to Winter Skills Courses in Aviemore, Cairngorms.

These places were offered out to Black Girls Hike community members and we were joined by Julie, Emily and Otja. Marie from United we Climb also joined us on the second weekend on a funded place.

We are thrilled to be able to offer these spaces to women who come from backgrounds not traditionally represented in mountaineering and winter walking, and to be able to offer some support with one of the possible barriers in attending courses.

Rab also provided waterproofs and layers to ensure that these women were able to cope with anything that the Scottish Winter environment could throw at them (including snow angels..!!)

We are incredibly grateful to Rab for supporting our community and look forward to more collaborations with other outdoor communities in the future to try to help diversify the outdoors and increase representation for all women.

Here is what Julie, Emily and Otja had to say about their experience with WAAC:

I had no experience of hiking in winter conditions. Being able to attend the course filled me with excitement and apprehension. I’m an older woman of colour who has some hiking experience, but knew I would be out of my comfort zone. Would I be able to cope with the physicality? Would my kit be adequate? Would I feel inferior to the other women attending due to my lack of experience?

The support of Jenny and her team pre course brought great reassurance. They made sure that I had the right kit and supplied what I lacked. All my fears melted away on day 1 of the course.  The instructors and all the women attending made me feel that I was in a safe place. The instructors were patient, knowledgeable and fun. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the course. I’m now aware of what skills are needed to be safe whilst hiking in winter conditions and feel that I have a sound base to build on. 

I would like to also thank the support of RAB for the supply of equipment and enabling this opportunity for me with Women’s Alpine Adventure Club. 

Julie

Attending the Women’s Alpine Adventure Club Winter skills course as a representative of Black Girls Hike and a Mountain Leader trainee was a life-affirming experience. Our guide Fiona was incredibly knowledgeable and helped to empower us with the skills needed to survive and thrive in an alpine environment. She helped to create a warm, open and friendly atmosphere and encouraged the group to appreciate the fauna and flora of the region as well as the awesome beauty of the Cairngorm mountain range. I can’t think of a better way to have spent International Women’s Day surrounded by adventurous, inspiring women. Thank you for an unforgettable experience.

 Emily Zobel Marshall, Professor of Postcolonial Literature and Black Girls Hike Leader

Learning winter alpine skills like ice axe self-arrest, crampon techniques, and weather navigation gave me so much more confidence in the mountains. Sharing this adventure with such an empowering group of women made the experience even more special and unforgettable.

Otja