Here's the thing nobody tells you about Scottish winter climbing skills: they're basically training for mountains you haven't climbed yet. Ice axe work, belays, and reading snow don't change when you fly out. The glaciers, the altitude, and the long days do. I've watched plenty of keen climbers arrive in the Alps with a head full of Scottish confidence and get humbled in the first week. So let's sort out what actually carries over, what doesn't, and how to build up sensibly.