Glenmore Girl
Whether she’s battling blizzards or chasing FKTs, Glenmore Lodge Senior Instructor, Emma Holgate, is always happy to be out on her skis in the Cairngorms.
MY LIFE OUTDOORS STARTED WITH…
My parents. We were always exploring the Yorkshire Dales, doing all the activities, and spent a lot of holidays in Scotland. I was very sporty through school and pursued outdoor studies in college and university. I got my sailing and mountain leadership certifications by 18 and worked at outdoor centres in the Lake District. In my early 20s, I got a trainee position at Glenmore Lodge, thanks to my mum who spotted the ad and encouraged me to apply. That experience solidified my love for working outdoors. I also started travelling worldwide for mountain adventures. In my mid-twenties, I had a change and joined the police in the Highlands. It was a great experience; I met people outside of the outdoor industry bubble and got a different view on life.
After seven years, it came to a natural end because, to progress, I would have had to move away from the mountains. I set up my own bike business instead and worked as a ski patroller. Then, when a job came up at Glenmore Lodge, I couldn’t resist, so I applied and got the job as Senior Mountain Bike Instructor.
THE MOST TRANSFERABLE SKILLS BETWEEN WORKING IN THE POLICE AND OUTDOORS…
Are the communication skills that I developed working with such a vast array of people in the police; it has meant I can use a calm and logical approach when dealing with challenges in the outdoor environment or coordinating events and courses. Many examples of high-stress and high-adrenaline situations from the police help to ground me.
WHAT I ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING AT GLENMORE LODGE IS…
The team. Being around like-minded people has always been something I love about the outdoors – sharing experiences and being able to chat about what we’re planning or where we’ve been. Glenmore Lodge is amazing for that and really inspires adventure for everyone.
THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A TYPICAL DAY…
It’s so varied. In the winter, I could be running a mechanic’s course or be out on the hill getting blasted by a blizzard. Or I might be writing words for the syllabus of a new award that British Cycling is creating.
THE LODGE HAS INTRODUCED A SERIES OF ALPINE SKI TOURING WEEKS THIS SEASON…
To complement the Scottish ski touring courses. It’s all about progression. If you come on courses in Scotland, you’re learning the basics, improving your technique, and laying the foundations. Then you can take all that out to the Alps, get into the bigger mountains, experience glacier travel, and tour at higher altitudes. One day you’ll be improving ski skills and the next you’re learning about crevasse rescue – all while out on a journey in the mountains.
OUR ANNUAL WILD SKI WEEKEND (WSW) IS LEGENDARY…
Year on year, we bring the enthusiasm to embrace whatever weather and snow conditions we get at WSW. We have an amazing team to deliver lots of options for people who want to get a taste of ski touring in the Cairngorms, and there’s a great party on the Saturday night. Our brands – Scarpa, Rab, Atomic, and Pieps – are going to be here again this season and are bringing winter sports retailers from across the country.
THE CAIRNGORMS REALLY IS SUCH A GREAT PLACE FOR SKI TOURING ADVENTURES…
Because a road takes you up to 600m, giving you a boost to the snow line – I love that about living here! Also, it has something for everyone. There are some nice easy-angled slopes so we can get out in all snow conditions, but it also has the exciting steeper lines in the big corries. It’s an interesting landscape to travel through, and once you’re up on the plateau you can journey so far, so quickly.
CAIRNGORM MOUNTAIN HAS ADAPTED TO THE RISE IN INTEREST IN SCOTTISH SKI TOURING…
Allowing us to buy touring passes for the funicular, making it more accessible for everyone. You can get up and over the back so easily, and that opens up so many options for a day ski touring.
IF YOU’RE CONSIDERING YOUR FIRST SCOTTISH SKI TOURING COURSE…
Come with a relaxed attitude, if you can. I think folks get quite hung up on whether they’re fit enough, skilled enough, or have the right kit. We have everything you need here, and when it comes to fitness and experience, it’s our job to make sure everyone feels comfortable.
MY PERSONAL GOALS FOR THIS SEASON…
Depend on the snow conditions, my time off, and who else is available. You have to keep an open mind. Although doing the 4000ers round (summiting the four 4000ft peaks) is always a goal. I did it in about seven hours a couple of years back, which I was pretty pleased with, but the official FKT is under five hours! I didn’t get round to it last winter, so I’m keen to put another quick time down this season. Hopefully, the conditions line up!
EMMA’S SKI TOURING KIT LIST
- RAB KHROMA CONVERGE JACKET & PANTS: In the red, it’s awesome. I love bright colours! The cut is also nice, and there are great big pockets.
- ATOMIC BACKLAND ULTRA LIGHT SKIS: Because I am a bit of a fast-and-light sort of girl, I love these skis. They perform exceptionally well in a variety of snow conditions, even when they weigh under 2kg for the pair! Being so light, they keep my legs fresher for the turns on descent.
- SCARPA F1 BOOTS: I love Boa’s 360° Fit System, so you can quickly tighten the toe area super easily, and these boots are really comfy and adaptable. With the F1, I can transition into crampons and do a mountaineering route and feel like I’m in a mountaineering boot.
- MARKER ALPINIST BINDINGS: They match my lightweight setup, and they are just really easy to use. They’ve improved over the years, and the current version is brilliant.
- KHROMA 30L PACK: This is just a super-functional pack, and the avalanche safety kit pocket is really accessible. I also like the 38-litre version with a roll-top for big trips.
- PIEPS TRANSCEIVER: Building trust in your kit is key, and this kit gives me lots of reassurance – from the use I’ve given it in practice and while teaching avalanche safety courses – that it will work in serious situations if required.
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