17-02-16, Aonach Eagach, Glen Coe - Winter Mountaineering

After a mini thaw, wet, stormy weather of yesterday, lush weather has resumed today in Glen Coe. Aonach Eagach was in a fine winter condition, some new snow, some old snow and ice surviving, gentle breeze, improving visibility. Leo and I had a great time on the traverse.

15-02-16, Buachaille, Glen Coe - Winter Mountaineering

Another excellent day in the west highlands today; cold, crisp, great visibility and sunshine. The boys from Bolton have done well. We split into two teams, I walked up the ridge to the right of Coire na Tulaich and ascended Stob Dearg and Stob na Doire, Adam took two of the more experienced lads up Curved Ridge, we met up for the walk down.

14-02-16, Glen Coe - Winter Mountaineering

Sunshine on Gear Aonach ridge.

The good current run of cold days has continued in the Scottish Highlands. I have spent the past couple of days working on winter skills with different groups, in Cairngorms and Glen Coe. The easterly winds have provided some interesting wind slab on different aspects from the usual. Today I ascended some icy Zig Zags on Gearr Aoanach with lads from Bolton Grammar School. The boys did well, seeing as most of them have never worn a harness. We had a good day yesterday working on essential movement skills with boot, axe and crampons around Stob Coire nam Beith.

Icy Zig Zags.

Screamach to Stob Coire nan Lochan.

Aonach Eagach looking in fine wintry condition.

View towards Rannoch Mor.

10-02-16, Torridon, Glen Carron - Winter Mountaineering

I have just spent 3 days in North West Highlands, Munro bagging with Simon. It is wintry over there, with snow above 600m, plenty of rime on the rocks, not so much ice however. The freezing level seemed to rise to or above the summits most days making the snow turn heavy by midday. We had a great time on Beinn Alligin, Liathach and Beinn Lieth Mhor-Sgorr Ruadh, despite the visibility not always showing Torridon in its fine glory!

Northern Pinnacles, Liathach.

Descending on Horns of Alligin.

Horns of Alligin.

About as close to sunshine as we got from Monday!

Coire Lair.

Sgorr Ruadh and some deer girls.

Liathach the start of the ridge.

Liathach on the way up Spidean Coire Leith.

On the Liathach Pinnacles.

31-01-16, Stob Coire nan Lochan - Winter Mountaineering

A welcome return to winter and 2 very different days this weekend. Saturday was especially buffeting, we did however manage to get some essential winter skills covered on Buachaille Etive Beag. Today was much nicer weather, we traversed Stob Coire nan Lochan. Many teams climbing on the buttresses, lots of new snow about in the coire and in the gullies, summit tops quite scoured from the wind.

23-01-16, Ben Nevis - Winter Mountaineering

Top of Number 3 Gully.

 The thaw has continued. As to be expected the snow line has risen and is heavily saturated at all levels, ice has melted, buttresses are very black. Rich and I walked up to Coire na Ciste on Ben Nevis up Number 3 Gully. We passed some unclimbable drippy ice on The Curtain, there had been some avalanches near Garadh Gully, Number 2 Gully and under Trident buttress. A team looking to head up Green Gully! Several teams climbing Number 3 Gully Buttress and a team un successful on an out of condition Thompson's Route. It was dry and breezy, but warm.

Avalanche debris Trident Buttress.

West side of Tower Ridge.

Ciste, looking black, Central and South Gully looking thin.

Number 3 Gully Buttress.

17-01-16, Applecross, North West Highlands - Winter Mountaineering

The intimidating view of the Chioch headwall.

 A change of scenery, we left Skye and headed to Beinn Bhan on Applecross. Clouds were fairly set in but rose well above the summits by midday, Skye was still looking gloomy. We did the traverse of a' Chioch, which we have done before but still a spectacular mountaineering day out. Ice appeared to be forming but routes like Silver Tear are well off, and March Hares Gully was full of soft unconsolidated snow.

Traversing the Chioch not far from the summit.

Plenty of snow on the way down.