Winter Fun!

It's been a busy few weeks since the last blog post. We've had some stormier weather which seems to have settled down and the last few weeks have been fantastic in the mountains.

I had a couple of great days with Rebecca and Debbie who were here on a Ben Nevis Winter weekend trip. We had a proper wild day around the CIC hut looking at Winter skills (and survival skills!).

 Rebecca and I headed up the Ben and she put in a superb effort getting to 1200m before calling it a day.

Andy and I headed out climbing and it was a sociable day on the Douglas Boulder with Steve and Hannah on Gutless and Nathan and Cormac following us Jacknife (V,6). It was nice to get on the sharp end on something a bit harder and the crux pitch was great with good protection and absorbing climbing.

 We had planned on a second route but on descent I was struck down by the Winter vomiting bug! Glad I wasn't on anything too committing that day!

 Last weekend Hannah was out with Gemma and Nick  and Dave was our with Sonnaz and her friends for a couple of trips on Ben Nevis and Winter Skills. Some stunning weather showcasing the UK's Highest Peak in all it's glory!

 After a few days in bed recovering, I headed back up to the Ben on a very 'Scottish' day! With lots of spindrift piling down the mountain, we settled on Fawlty Towers (III) for a quick hit.

 Last week I was out in Glencoe with Julie and 3rd year students from West Highland College looking at decision making in the mountains, using the 'Be Avalanche Aware' model. This was a great day out and there were lots of interesting points for the students to consider

Mark was out for us with Liz on Friday tackling the Ben in some challenging conditions, well done team!

Yesterday was set to be glorious so James, Andy and myself decided to go climbing! Andy led up P1 of Vanishing Gully (V,5) which was in great nick whilst I got to lead the steeper icefall and up onto Tower Ridge. The continuation gully had a great little pitch where it narrowed which was well worth doing. With a few slower teams ahead of us, we decided to descend Tower Ridge and back into Observatory Gully. Lots of teams out enjoying the day, with the Orion Face looking very popular (and rightly so!)

The last few weeks...

The Winter season is in full swing now. Here are some pictures with captions of my work and play over the last few weeks:

A snowy trip on Ben Nevis for Abacus Mountain Guides

2 days with Mark looking at Winter Skills and navigation- deep snow on Buachaille Etive Beag on Day 1!

A trip up to Mullach nan Correan on Day 2....

And a visit to the white room!...

Abbing down to go climbing

Out with Ian and Al on Morwind (III,4) on Aonach Mor

Some stretchy moves!

Back on the Ben with Frank from the Netherlands

The Observatory still poking through

A bit of a wild day with Danny in Glencoe...

Looking at Winter navigation in testing conditions...

A slightly nicer day on Stob Ban for day 2!

A fun in the sun day out with friends on the Zig Zags on Gearr Aonach

Jamie out with students fro Sheffield Hallam Uni MC on the N Ridge of Stob Ban

Some down climbing in wet conditions!

3 days with returning client David- Day 1 was wild and wet in Glencoe!

Pushing the comfort zone on the North Ridge of Stob Ban...

Summit in the bag!

Battling the weather again on the North Face of the Ben!

Some dry and calm weather with Dorian and Bjorn for the Highland Mountain Company

Stunning conditions with Graham on Stob Dubh for some Winter Skills

Back in Glencoe with Julie, working with students from West Highland College

This is more like it.. :)

Julie Baum MIC, coaching some Winter Mountaineering

Great day with a great bunch!

Some ice axe arrest with Lee and Chris on a Ben Nevis Winter Weekend

The chaps tooled up and ready to tackle Ben Nevis!

Superb weather on the Ben!

The obligatory summit selfie!

A speedy ascent in more great weather with Rhiannon from Canada

A rare sight!