Blair looking for a snow patch.  Aonach Beag behind.

After the last two day of being bed ridden and sick, I decided to gather some strength and make it into the hills today.  Especially as it was such a beautiful day.  Fortunately Blair was out avalanche forecasting and at this short notice I could tag along and not be a burden to him.  As well as learning alot of science and improving my knowledge of avalanches I had a great day on the top of Aonach Mor.  Fantastic views all around with great clarity.  Great day to be out. Am I fit to go climbing tomorrow??

Kenny and Rhona enjoying first Scottish ski of the season

Ben Nevis looking great

December has continued to bring a mixture of unsettled weather.  High winds, rapid thaws and some deep freezes.  All great news for the long run, however trying to burn off the Christmas turkey is proving to be difficult.  Activities done on two wheels or in the indoor climbing walls seem to be the most productive.  I have managed to get a few days out skiing also at Nevis Range which has been nice and sociable and I have everyday lined up to get out winter climbing...I just need a weather window.  Hopefully one comes soon!

This weekend I have been working with Mike and Donald in the Cairngorms with a college group from St Paul's in London.  I worked with them last year on their first trip to Scotland where we covered winter skills as they had no experience.  This year was about doing some climbing and we headed into the Northern Corries and climbed some grade one gullies.  Jacobs Ladder and Aladdin's Couloir.  Unfortunately Sunday suffered from a turbo thaw and very high winds so we headed to Huntley's cave for some rock climbing, rope work, abseiling, tyrolean traverse and a nice picnic.  A great couple of days but unfortunately my camera stayed in the West.

Alas, this was not the case outside.  Freezing levels above the summits, raining all day and strong winds were forecast.  The accuracy of the forecast was spot on.  So Robin and I spent our second and final day in the comfort of the Ice Factor in Kinloch leven.  The beauty of this facility is that one can squeeze so much in to a session.  Ice climbing, ice screw placement, Abalakov threads, dry tool bouldering and bottom roping, placing trad gread on lead, rock climbing, leading, coffee and cake.  All in the comfort of being indoors.  What would we have learnt if we went up Ben Nevis....Robins Alpine soft shells aren't good for Scotland and it was very wet!  WE both knew that before leaving the car.

Robin crossing the Glencoe glacier

Living the winter dream

Freezing levels above the summits, strong westerlies and passing showers.  Its a Curved Ridge day.  It was the best option to find snow, stay sheltered and keep moving.  Robin from Sweden was super psyched for some good climbing but soon realised it was very conditions dependant so we had to drop a few grades and seek some snow.  No snow on the steep routes so a ridge delivered.  Robin did a spot of leading on the way up and enjoyed his first Scottish mountain summit.  We had the place to ourselves and enjoyed a nice rapid descent down Coire an Tulaich mostly on snow.  A great day.  Worse conditions tomorrow...options are running low for now!

It's melting over there...

Robin leading the crux

Robin trail breaking...didn't last long.

Melt, Melt, Melt...

Great weather and conditions

After spending every minute looking at the forecast to find a weather window, one finally came today and I was free to get out.  Earlier in the week my flatmate Blair agreed to go climbing which was great and then asked if Iain could join us.  Again, great news as I would have two rope guns.

Iain getting stuck in to the crux pitch

Then Blair pulled out which meant I had to climb with Iain.  I got a little nervous as Iain never climbs easy routes and always climbs with very strong climbers.  Oh well, what's the worst that could happen?  So we had an early start and headed into Ben Nevis and we were both keen for a route high and left on the Ciste.  It was great to see that two other climbers had woken early, walked in early and put in a great set of tracks up to our route.

However the problem was that they went onto our climb!  Gutted.  So instead we headed over to Number 3 Gully buttress to get established on a route.  This turned out to be a non starter.  The whole crag was coved in a 5 millimetre layer of ice, choking all the cracks and covering all the edges.  Iain suggested it would be hard and scary, I obviously didn't argue.

Iain on small footholds but cool as a cucumber

Instead we climbed Cornucopia (VII 9) as its a big wide crack and turned out to give two nice pitches of climbing and a mega cornice to dig through.  It was the best outcome as the team on our original plan were taking quite a while to get established into the crux as it was choked with ice.  I'm not even sure they managed to top out.  Great day non the less.  Just need more days like this.  Unfortunately its thawing tomorrow.

The other team on our intended route...one day I might climb this.

Coire An t-Sneachda.  We climbed on the small crag on the left.

News of a settled(ish) winter day had come in and fortunately Murdoch and I had planned about a month ago to climb this weekend.  As Scotland had been pelted by storms, we were pleased our first day out this season was a relatively chilled one.  A perfect opportunity to stretch our legs, have a good catch up and enjoy some nice climbing.  We had several objective's but fortunately we agreed that a nice 2/3 pitch route would suit and something which isn't totally nails and scary.  We wrote off Coire an Lochain and went for the closer option of Coire an t-Sneachda and onto the Mess of Pottage.  Unsurprisingly, we were accompanied by many other teams, it is the weekend after all.  

Murdoch finding some accommodating frozen turf.

Murdoch setting off on the 15m easy middle pitch.

We decided whilst walking that we would climb No Blue Skies (VI,7) which turned out to be a great climb.  Everything we wanted to get our heads back into winter climbing and keep the psyche high.  The first pitch was delicate and sustained, and the top pitch was ....well....I don't think I have hand jammed so much on a winter route before, America must still be fresh in my mind.  The top pitch led into familiar ground of Wachacha (VI,7) which I climbed last year with Blair and Murdoch.  Fortunately the cracks were clearing quite well but we both agreed that it would be very hard to protect in very ice conditions.

Bomber

Faff Faff Faff

The week is looking quite changeable for the next few days and into next week, plenty of thaws and refreezes will lead to good conditions...be patient.  My psyche is high this winter, hopefully get a few more routes done before work starts.

Some cha[ on The Melting Pot, looks ace!

Ian and Clare have a 5 year plan to climb the Matterhorn or Mont Blanc so today was the first leg of the process.  The summit of Ben Nevis was the first obstacle and we were accompanied by very mild weather but a strong chilly wind.  Despite completing the route mostly in the cloud and dampness we made a 7 hour round trip with some fantastic gluten-free millionaires shortbread to keep us energised (thank you Clare).  We did come across some thawing snow on the summit plateau but didnt feel like it will last very long.  Very warm for the end of November.

Ian and Clare enjoying the last of the view

Nice while the view lasted

Who said hill food is boring?

Rock hoping

Ian's 2nd Munro and Clare's 4th time on the summit