We're a group of people who are passionate about the outdoors in general, and about ski touring in particular. We're based in Edinburgh but have members living all around the UK.
We have about 120 members at the moment, with equal numbers of men and women, all ages and several nationalities... including a posse (or should that be a possum) of Australians.
We have some non-skiing members who join us in other activities including socials, and also some members with kids.
Although we're snow hounds who whoop and shriek at the sight of a bit of the white stuff, we don't just ski! Our love of the great outdoors also takes us to all the best parts of Scotland on foot, by bike and sometimes in sea kayaks or canoes.
Membership runs from June to May and costs £15 for new members.
Members receive a weekly news bulletin (sent by email), so you can always keep up to date with what's on in the club.
Your subscription includes club membership of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) which gives you access to affiliated club huts, discounts on top quality winter skills training courses, a regular magazine and, most importantly, third party liability insurance cover. It also means you are eligible to apply for BMC travel insurance.
We are invited to club discount nights at Tiso's in Edinburgh, and get a 10% discount at Braemar Mountain Sports and Cairngorm Mountain Sports, the main suppliers of ski touring equipment in Scotland.
But perhaps the best benefit of membership is the wide circle of friends that you'll make from belonging to Scotland's biggest ski touring club.
Anywhere in Scotland within reasonable reach of Edinburgh for day and weekend trips. Weekend trips are booked in advance for the season and additional ad hoc trips are announced as snowfall demands and inspires.
We also organise a longer meet
at New Year, and run holidays in Norway, the Alps, the Dolomites,
Eastern Europe, Canada and the USA - about three overseas trips a year.
When there's snow at low level, nordic ski touring on forest tracks or valley floors is also popular.
Most club members use telemark skis with plastic boots and free heel bindings, but some use 'skinnier' skis and some use ski mountaineering equipment.
We're active all year round. When there’s no snow we go hillwalking, cycling, backpacking or climbing. We also have a very active social calendar with pub meets, meals out, barbecues, film and theatre visits, slide shows, ceilidhs and parties.
A meal and pub night is organised for the first Tuesday of every month.
People new to ski touring are very welcome. The club has good quality ski equipment for hire if you don't have your own.
Lots of people join us with hillwalking and/or downhill skiing experience and both are an excellent background. If you're new to ski touring, we strongly recommend that you get some instruction as good technique will make tours safer, less tiring and not least more fun! We organise at least one instruction weekend or holiday a year, but you might also like to do a course with one of the commercial companies offering free heel/telemark instruction - some are listed on our useful links page.
All members taking part in club activities are responsible for their own safety in the hills, and it is advisable that you know how to use a map and compass. If you plan to go into the mountains in winter, you must have appropriate clothing for what at times can be severe weather conditions. It may sometimes be necessary to carry an ice axe and crampons, and you will need to learn how to use these if you plan to ski or walk in steeper terrain in icy conditions.
The Mountaineering Council of Scotland offer winter skills courses at Glenmore Lodge each year at reduced rates for club members. And we work regularly with MC of S and the British Association of Ski Patrollers (BASP) to organise bespoke courses for members in avalanche awareness, first aid and crevasse rescue.
If there's snow at lower levels, skiing through lowland forest tracks or along valley bottoms obviously requires a lower level of fitness.
Hillwalking and cycling are both great ways to build up or maintain your fitness for skiing. The Physiobench website has some examples of ski fitness and warm-up exercises.
If you want to go on one of the day trips or socials listed on the what's on page, you just need to contact the organiser and let them know you'd like to come. If you're a new enquirer, you're very welcome - contact Jan and he will give you the organiser's contact details if they're not listed.
If you want to go on one of the weekend trips listed on the what's on page, download a booking form from the 'event details' section and forward it with the relevant deposit (payable to ESTC) to the weekend organiser. (Jan can give you their contact details if they're not listed). Many venues have limited bedspace and bookings are accepted on a first cheque received/first booked basis.
Deposits are non-refundable unless you cancel your booking at least 8 days in advance and someone else fills your space, unless there are exceptional circumstances. Any deposits retained go into club funds and are used towards future events/purchase of club equipment.
The organiser will contact you a few days before the meet to tell you about all the arrangements and to answer any questions you may have.
We usually leave Edinburgh between 5 to 7pm on Friday evening and return to Edinburgh around 7 to 8+ pm on Sunday evening.
There's no set programme during meets except for on tuition weekends. Plans for each day's tours are usually discussed the night before, and people divide into small groups so that they can ski or walk with other people with similar aims for the day. The meet organiser will try to make sure you link up with a suitable group, but you are responsible for your own activities and for your own safety.
Backpacking and camping are popular in the summer.
We try to keep costs and environmental impact to a minimum by arranging lift-shares for weekends. Mileage costs are worked out at 25p per mile. The meet coordinator organises the car pool, and you are assigned a car and driver – or passengers – a few days before the meet. (Or you can choose to travel independently if you prefer).
A meal (usually vegetarian) including wine is normally provided on Saturday nights. People take turns to prepare the meal and clear up, and everyone eats together. It's always very sociable as everyone relates their day's tales and plans their next adventures. The meet organiser chooses the cooks for the meal, (but don't worry, you won't be asked to cook on your first meet!)
You will need to bring food for all other meals and snacks during the weekend.
Depending on the location, a typical weekend will cost around £50-60, which covers accommodation, transport (if travelling in the car pool) and Saturday night's meal and wine. Exact costs are calculated by the trip co-ordinator during the course of the weekend and split between everyone attending.
Additional costs could be ski hire, tuition, ski passes, and food or drink en route on Friday or Sunday.
As winter meets are booked about a year ahead, it's impossible to know if there will be enough snow for skiing or not. The trip will go ahead anyway regardless of snow or weather and we simply hike or cycle if ski conditions aren't right. No worries!
You're welcome to attend day trips, pub nights, any other social activities and one winter weekend meet without becoming a member. However to book onto any further weekend meets you'll have to pay the current season's subscription.
Contact our membership secretary Jan and have a chat. To join read these explanatory notes, download a membership form (pdf) or membership form (spreadsheet) and send the form with your cheque or standing order form to Jan.