I always spray the inside of my screws with WD-40 before each day in the hills. It simply means that they never clog with ice as you remove them....sounds simple but I assure you it can make the difference on steep ice sometimes

Don't watch all the films and therefore get no sleep. It makes you feel very tired and very very grumpy. As I am finding out right now!!

I never leave the house these days with out a buff round my wrist. I double it up and it sits there all day. Doesn't matter if I'm climbing, mountaineering, cycling or whatever, I always know its there. Easy to get to, useful for wiping sweat out of the eyes, to pop on to keep the head or ears warm with out digging through the rucsac or pockets to find it. It also protects my watch!!

In a nut shell when it comes to climbing pure water fall ice like we at Dream Guides do from Dec through to March there is a single most important tip.

KEEP THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE SHARP.

I have 3 sets of Ice tools for waterfall ice and each are razor sharp.
Keep those screws sharper than your Gillett razor at home. If in doubt buy new ones there is nothing worse than trying to get that important screw in when your sh**ing it on the lead and finding it blunt.

Crampons again keep sharp, get a set that you only use on the ice not that old pair in the back of the cupboard that you use up in Scottie.

Keep to this little tip and then you will open up a whole new grade of climbing

I always have a set of socks which are only ever used in the tent. Each time I go into my tent for any length of time, I take off old socks, wet wipe my feet and then powder them. On go the Tent Socks and relax. Its just a simply but lush little treat