Scottish Winter - WAAC x Wanderers of Colour
Thanks to ongoing RAB funding, we were able to offer 8 places on our Scottish Winter Skills courses to women from Wanderers of Colour. Here are some experiences from the women that joined us.
Ash:
Thanks again for the weekend it was an amazing experience!
Thanks again to RAB for the kit, which really helped make the weekend more accessible and has given me the tools to do more in snowy conditions!
Thank you to you for leadership and knowledge over the weekend. You really helped us feel comfortable and excited about a new activity. We had loads of fun and learned so much! The weekend course (with your excellent instruction), meeting other WAAC people with loads of great stories, and being out in the Cairngorms for the first time has really given me the bug to get out and try some new things and keep learning! Maybe some trad climbing soon and hopefully some mountaineering experience too.
Kaodi:
It's been two weeks now but I still get a heartwarming feeling whenever I think about the WAAC weekend :-))
First of all, everything was so well organized, and from arriving to the hostel, to making it to the top of the peak, to saying our last goodbyes, I always felt guided, comfortable and safe. It was always clear where we needed to be and when, as well as what we needed to bring. And the fact that emergency options were always available in case we were missing something for the day, was super helpful because I would probably have had both my hands fall off without those gloves!
Our small group was absolutely great: everyone was friendly and excited to be there! Even though we had different personal goals and limits, it felt like it was always encouraged to be eager to explore more, or step back and respect our boundaries. It also felt like we all had time to ask questions 1:1 about things we might be curious about, and it was lovely to get to know more about you and Kirsten's journey.
You were both always extremely respectful and inclusive, and I really appreciated how you were able to adapt the excursions to the heterogeneous level of skills in the group. I felt comfortable asking questions I felt might be silly or common knowledge for everyone else, and was always welcomed with a kind and detailed response. On day 1, for some reason I could not figure out how to put on my gaiters -although I've used them before ahah!- and assistance was given in a way that felt genuinely supportive and non-judgemental, without making me feel diminished or questioning my overall abilities. Which hasn't always been the case in other contexts, especially male dominated ones... if you know what I mean...
I hadn't been on a winter hike since I was a child, so it felt like everything was new. From learning how to literally WALK again, to understanding how to listen to my body and find the right pace. I can't thank you enough for providing us with all the kit from Rab: I remember thinking, while in the middle of an icy gust "wow, I actually can't feel any of it!", because of how bundled up I was in all the layers! I was never wet or cold which would definitely not have been the case without the appropriate kit, and I look forward to using it again and again in the years to come.
What I will treasure the most, is seeing how genuinely excited about the beautiful white hills you both were, it almost felt like it was your first time seeing snow! It was wonderful to witness you share your love and passion for this area, and even though you've probably trekked up Cairngorm Mountain hundreds of times at this point, it still felt like an exciting adventure we were sharing together rather than just a well-practised route you were on just a few days prior!
It was very inspiring to hear about your adventures mountaineering, ice climbing, ski touring and much more and I've already looked into trying some dry slopes in the upcoming months so that I can be more involved with winter outdoor activities come next winter. I would love to be able to join more of your courses in the future
Hanadi:
I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for hosting us four from wanderers in the Cairngorms (as well as Kaodi and the others the following weekend), sourcing the gear, and for personally guiding us out in the snow. I felt incredibly touched that you dedicated your teaching hours to us, as opposed to other women from your community - that dedication did not go unnoticed and I am so grateful! You are a really inspiring guide and a great teacher - as well as quite silly which I like ;)
I learnt so much over those few days, not only from the direct skills you taught us, but also from talking to some of the other women, and seeing others enjoying the winter conditions - especially the brave Scottish skiers! Definitely feel like I’m one step closer to my dream of some bad ass cross country/ off piste skiing… It was so shocking to me how much difference having the correct and new gear makes, though once you mentioned how long the waterproofing is recommended to last, I did feel a bit silly for mashing about in the snow haha - no regrets though.
I am the first one in my family to do this sort of stuff, wasn't really allowed to growing up as parents didn't understand it (we migrated here from lebanon when I was 7) and was hard to sort out extra-curriculars with multiple kids and english as a second language. I'm also constantly thinking about accessibility for those with disabilities when on stuff like this, because I want to try to include my sister as much as possible - we share the same interests but with her cerebral palsy it is a lot harder for her to find the right opportunity or support.