A Look At The December Issue Of The Great Outdoors

The December issue of The Great Outdoors is out now with an emphasis on winter, as you'd expect at this time of year. However I have a combined trip and gear report on a walk and camp in last summer's heatwave! Originally scheduled for November it got bumped an issue and so now appears surrounded by snow and ice. 

Also in the gear pages I review the Henri-Lloyd Mav Lite Shell waterproof jacket and the Klattermusen Ansur Hooded Wind Jacket, Alex Roddie tests ten head torches, and Lucy Wallace reports on three pairs of winter eyewear.

In the Winter Skills section winter novice Isla McCay describes taking part in the Introduction to Winter Skills course at Glenmore Lodge, James Roddie gives advice on using ice axe and crampons, Lucy Wallace looks at winter hazards, Jon Jones, the Head of Rock and Mountain at Glenmore Lodge, goes through the steps for a successful winter day out, avalanche forecaster Mark Diggins does a Q&A on being avalanche aware, and there's another Q&A with Glenmore Lodge Chief Instructor Heather Morning. 

In the main features six regular contributors describe their most memorable winter days, David Lintern goes winter mountaineering on Carn Dearg Meadhonach and the Carn Mor Dearg Arete, and Norman Hadley goes 'bumbagging' and has a winter camp on Scafell Pike.

Far from winter and the UK Anna Richards tackles 350-miles of the wonderful-sounding Transcaucasian Trail in Armenia.

The issue opens with a splendid winter view down Glen Etive from Buachaille Etive Beag by Simon Atkinson. Creator of the Month is snow artist Simon Beck. Jim Perrin's Mountain of the Month is Ireland's highest, Carrauntoohil. Continuing her series on her walk round the coast of Britain Emma Schroeder celebrates Scottish clouds.

In the Wild Walks pages Stefan Durkacz climbs Fuar Bheinn and Creach Bheinn in the West Highlands, Craig Weldon casts a Brocken Spectre on Stuc a' Chroin in the Southern Highlands, Francesca Donovan finds magic on Haystacks and Fleetwith Pike, Roger Butler explores Heron Pike and Loughrigg Fell above Grasmere, and Andrew Galloway wanders over Bera Mawr and Bera Bach in the Carneddau in Snowdonia.