Among other things, Iceland is known for volcanoes and glaciers. But not necessarily the skiing. While the Troll Peninsula has a bit more of a ski scene, the Westfjords -- that claw shaped bit of Iceland to the far northwest -- is not a scene at all. Which is part of why I love it. And the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, the northernmost peninsula just off the Arctic Circle is rarely visited in winter. The mountains here are a mix of jagged seaside cliffs and plateau-topped

Scottish winter climbing isn't known for sunny, calm days with perfect visibility. Rather, 'full Scottish conditions' -- wind, sideways rain (or sleet, graupel, and snow), raw cold, and complete white-out fogs are far more common...supposedly. In our ten days in Scotland, we experienced weather that I repeatedly said reminded me of winter days in Colorado or Utah; sunny, mild, and perfect. One day on Ben Nevis I even got sunburned, overheated, and dehydrated, things that RA