Winter Mountaineering

The weekend was spent with Jacob and Ewan on a winter mountaineering course.   We spent the first day up in SCNL looking at a range of skills that conditions would allow.

On the Sunday we went up the Zigzags and along the ridge to put these skills into practice.  The lads are only 15, and did a great job in challenging conditions.

Digging Holes

After the stormy day on Tuesday, which we spent indoors looking at weather and avalanches, we got back out and headed East.

Happy summit team

Wednesday was spent walking in to Ciste Meredth  (forgive the spelling), via the Fiacaill Corie Cas and the summit of Cairngorm.  The lads did a good job and worked hard to dig their snow holes for the night.  Nice dry conditions made it a nicer experience than last year.

Nice light to dig in

The staff palace

Thursday was an easy work down to the Ciste carpark taking in a few spot heights.  It was a great way to finish a very good week.

Great views on the way out

A Stunning Day in Glencoe

Today I was out with just Aston and Luke from the Bolton School group.  Whilst the others went on a munro bagging day in the sunshine, we went up Curved Ridge.  It was as busy as you'd expect for half term, but we made good time and got ourselves to the front and up quickly. Help by the route being in good condition at the moment.

Luke and Aston enjoying the ridge

We met up with the others on the way down for a nice sociable end to a great day out.

Couple of Wintery Day

Yesterday was the first of the week with the lads from Bolton School.  We had an easy day up in Stob Corie Nan Bieth looking at a whole range of winter skills.  This is the winter experience for the majority of the them, so it was a day we'll spent.

Stunning views 

Today we put these skills to the test as we picked our way up a surprisingly icy Zigzags.  This offered a good level of challenge, really making them think about how they moved themselves around the mixture of terrain.

We then continued along the ridge to SCNL and down. The stunning views made it a pretty good day out.

Not So Wintery In The Lakes

Yesterday out was out with the lads from Bolton School in the Lakes.  We had been hoping for a winter day, but the change in the weather has pretty much wiped the snow out.  There is still the odd patch around and some snow in gullies, but it does not look like it is cooling down any time soon.

The day is in preparation for the up and coming winter week in Scotland.  The lad are generally younger than last year, so it was good to see them out in some poor weather to see how they coped.  Despite the wind, rain and general ming throughout the day, they all did really well.  it was bleak on top of High Raise, and some good navigation was needed.

Bolton School Winter Day Out

Today I was working with students from both the Boys and Girls Division of Bolton School.  We had a winter day planned, and thankfully snow.  As it was the first winter day out for all the group, we opted for the relatively short walk up Bowfell from Langdale.

Poor viability on top

Happy team

There was a fair bit of snow from the carpark, so everyone had to get to grips with moving around in the snow quickly. Some coped better than others.   The weather held out for us most of the way, but became a white room from the col to the summit.  We had lost a couple by this point, who had headed down with Steve.  Those that pushed on obviously felt a good sense of achievement despite the lack of veiw.  The decent back down offered it's own challenges, bit again they did really well and made good time.

A long day out from Bolton.

The Message

Yesterday was Alex's last day with me.  The efforts of the previous days had taken the toll a little, so we opted to just do The Message IV,6.  The was a lot of snow blown in from the previous day, along with more fresh snowfall.  This made things hard going.  We took a cheeky approach through the rock still showing which is a good option in these condition as it takes the angle out a little too.  That said, it was still knee deep and waist deep next to the buttress.  It was worrying watching large groups plough straight up towards Jacobs, never even stopping to take stock.

Lots of snow on the easy angles of pitch 1

The climb itself was buried, and gave the full Scottish climbing experience.  Even the main corner required excavation, with no cracks visible.  All the pegs in the side walls were easily dug out knowing were to look without a metal detector.

Alex finishing off the crux

It was a great way to finish my first stint up North this season.  I will be back up in Feb for some more work, and have some bit down in the Lakes too as long as the snow lasts.