There's snow mistaking the theme of this month's issue of TGO (sorry).

Terrible puns aside, winter is upon us and many of our mountains are plastered in that glorious white stuff. So it's fortunate that this issue of TGO is all about snow - where to walk when it arrives, what to wear, and the skills you need to stay safe.

Winter adventures

In our two-part lead feature we reveal our favourite hills for winter, the ones we'll be heading to over the snowy season. In the first part Cameron McNeish recalls a rewarding trip up Skiddaw in howling winter weather, and we choose 10 mountains - including highlights of the Cairngorms, Lake District and Snowdonia - that are guaranteed to deliver epic walks in winter.

For those with more modest ambitions Carey Davies writes about the rolling Black Mountains in South Wales and picks a selection of 'miniature mountains' - small hills with big personalities that aren't quite so intimidating.

Elsewhere Daniel Neilson recalls how he learned to slow down and pay more attention to the wonders of the natural environment during a walking trip in the Cairngorms, and Vivienne Crow heads to the mountains above Sarajevo and discovers a magnificent silent world on a snowshoeing trek.

Once all that's given you inspiration to get into the winter hills, the first part of our definitive guide to winter skills gives you the 'how' of it all - choosing and fitting crampons, picking an ice axe, cutting steps, building snow shelters (including igloos!) and other skills you need to stay safe in the far more formidable conditions of winter.

Gear

In gear, Chris Townsend tests and reviews a selection of headtorches, essential for the short days and long nights of this time of year, Cameron McNeish puts a host of the latest softshells through their paces, while Daniel Neilson reviews the Eider Uphill waterproof jacket and the Mountain Equipment Eclipse Hooded Zip Tee midlayer.

We also reveal which gear won the inaugural TGO Awards, recently announced at a glitzy (well, sort of) bash in Kendal, and why. The judges (TGO's Equipment Editor Chris Townsend, CEO of the Outdoor Industries Association Andrew Denton and blogger Andy Howell) divulge the reasons behind their verdicts for best footwear, clothing product, camping product and innovation. There are some surprising results...

Elsewhere on the gear theme we take a look at the recent crop of of retro-styled gear products with modern technology inside them and examine the softshell that costs an eye-watering £1200, while Chris Townsend explains why he thinks Scandinavia, more than any other part of the world, has influenced the gear we take with us into the mountains.

And more...

Amid all that we also find space to interview the Brownlee Brothers about sibling rivalry and getting chased by gamekeepers in the Yorkshire Dales, discover a Maoism-themed (yes, really) trekking trail in Nepal and describe excellent walking breaks in the Peak District, Lake District and Cornwall.

And on top of that there are our regular 10 Wild Walks with routes in Argyll, Glen Affric, the Cheviots, the Yorkshire Dales, Pembrokeshire and more.

With all that, you simply can't (ice) axe for more. I'll get my coat...

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