Winter Skills Practice

Out with Dave Ascough  www.daveascough.co.uk for preparation for our upcoming Winter ML assessment.

We looked at avalanche awareness and found some weak layers on the West slopes of Carn Mor Dearg whilst digging test pits. Also looked at various snow anchors and belays as well as movement on snow and ice. Beautiful weather, looks like the Ben is shaping up nicely, quite a lot of ice forming already!

Ledge Route

Dessie and I headed up Ledge Route on Ben Nevis today. A superb grade 1/2 scramble with fine airy situations. The mist and rain cleared to give sunshine when we topped out so we followed the corrie rim round to the summit. This was Dessie's first time on the North Face of the Ben and he now has his sights set on Tower Ridge after some awesome views across to it today!
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The Summit from Cran Dearg

Tower Ridge

Mamores Day

Had a great day with Dessie and Glenda on Stob Ban and Mullach Nan Corean in the Mamores. Mixed weather in the morning cleared to give sunshine and spectacular views over to the Ben and South to Glen Coe. This is a lovely ridge walk with some fantastic scenery. Met some folks celebrating a final Munro too, congratulations again!

3 Peaks on Ben Nevis

Back off the Ben after working for Maximum Adventure. A large group of about 60 made it to the summit and back despite some rather wet and windy conditions near the top.

Skye Trip

Jonny and I returned from Skye after a wet attempt at the Cuillin Ridge. The weather window we were hoping for didn't arrive until 7 hours later than we needed it .After a rather wet and windy bivvy on Bealach a Coire Lochan we went for a wander around Coire a Ghrunda and back to Glen Brittle for a chill out time on the beach

3 peaks

Back from another trip up the Ben with a group doing the 3 peaks. Some nice weather despite poor forecast early yesterday. Everyone managed in under 6 hours. Good luck for other peaks guys!

Change of Plans

Jonny and I bailed on our plans for Tower Ridge after heavy rain and winds forecast.  We went up a wet and slippery Ledge Route instead. Some good work practising our short roping for our attempt at the Cuillin Ridge Traverse in a few weeks. Fingers crossed for some nicer weather!

3 peaks...

Working on the Ben again today with some more people doing the 3 peaks today. Wet and windy conditions didn't dampen their spirits or their legs as they all made it to the top and back in under 5 hours! Fantastic effort folks!

Good views on the Ben

Working for Maximum Adventure today with a group doing the 3 peaks challenge. Fantastic views from the top of the Ben over as far as Skye. Everyone did really well with a time of 4hrs 45 minutes from Achintee to the Summit and back!

Sorry, forgot camera so no pics :(

Awesome day on Rannoch Wall

Up The Buachaille today doing January Jigsaw with Gil and Lyle. This was Lyle's first trip up the Buachaille and his first multi-pitch rock climb. What a  route to start on! Just enough of a breeze to keep the midges away! Fantastic day and good effort guys!

Stac pollaidh

Climbed West buttress on Stac Pollaidh today with glenda. Nice V Diff route on this mini-mountain that despite it's low altitude, still a had good mountaineering feel about it.Route finding slightly tricky but hard to go too far wrong. Topped out to blue skies and stunning views. This area must be one of my favourite places in Scotland.

Bhasteir Tooth

Some nice climbing on Skye. Glenda and I did Naismith's Route on the Bhasteir tooth. Intimidating looking route but much easier than it looks, nice V Diff climbing.

First 3 peaks of the season

Took a  group up Ben Nevis who are taking part in the 3 peaks challenge. Good weather with the cloud clearing from the summit.  A decent time of  about 5hr 30 min.