Winter Mountain Leader Training

Over the past week I have been doing my Winter Mountain Leader Training at Glenmore Lodge. Over the course of the week our group was shown and put into different scenarios to test our ability to lead in the mountains in winter.
It was a really great course and it has got me looking forward to putting some of these skills into practise!

Carn Mor Dearg

A lack of a climbing partner meant I was heading out for a walk today. On our way up the hill we were spotting all the routes getting climbed on the Ben ,which was very busy and looked in great condition. We didn't have a lot of time because Jess, Anna and Chris had to be back over east by five and after a late start it was apparent that we weren't going to get much else done. So After getting blown off the top of Carn Mor Dearg we headed back off the hill.

The North Face looking really good

Chris on CMD

On the summit with the NE ridge in the background

Swimming to the Cobbler

Third day on the trot and the weather has completely changed. Loads of snow has fallen which made tavelling to the hills a more difficult, with lorries getting stuck on the roads. I met up with Ben in Arrochar to go and look at some routes on the cobbler. It wasn't long before we were swimming through the snow, after much battling we decided to turn round and leave it for another day.

Beinn a’ Chaorainn

Dave, Craig and I were attempting to hide from the wind by heading up the East ridge of Beinn a'Chaorainn. Before getting to the hill though we had to walk through a forest, that was really boggy and had a lot of fallen trees over the path, which turned out to be a mission.Progress on the ridge was quite quick due to a lack of snow, crampons and axes not necessary.

Our plan to hide from the wind worked until we topped out, at least we didn't get blown around for the entire day. Heading out again tomorrow so lets hope its a bit more exciting. 

Craig and Dave on the Ridge

Still Warm

Well instead of twiddle my thumbs I thought it would be best to go out and do something, even just to stretch the legs. So Craig and I headed into to Glencoe and took a wonder up the zig-zags on Gearr Anoagh we went up onto Stob Coire Nan Lochan to find a lack of snow then headed down broad gully. 

Luckily the snow is expected to come back.

SCNL

Glencoe at Dusk

Still Too Warm

Neil, Craig and I headed up to Stob Ban in the hope that we would find some product on the North East Face. We thought the low temperatures overnight would have been enough to freeze the turf opening up some options for climbing.
After getting to the base route it was clear to see that our assumptions were wrong. The turf wasn't frozen and much of the snow is still unconsolidated, so we vowed to return when the conditions improve.

It was still good to get out and stretch the legs

Now my winter season will have to go on pause until Friday due to some last minute work coming in. Hopefully then the conditions will be much better.

Finally on the Snow!

Well the crampons and axe got used for their first winter route this season. Neil and I headed down to Glencoe to do the Aonagh Eagach Ridge we picked a good day because the weather was stunning.
The snow up high is very powdery and is in need of some consolidation, some more wouldn't hurt either. Lets hope this is the shape of things to come

Jamie Hageman got a great picture of us

Looking over to Ben Nevis

Looking back along the ridge

Plenty of snow in Stob Coire Nan Lochan

Glen Sheil

Craig MacDonald and myself headed up to Glen Sheil today for a change of scenery. I always had it in my mind that it was a much longer drive heading up this way. Turns out its less than an hour from Fort William, we planned to tick a few peaks off North of Loch Clunie.
We started off with Carn Ghluasaid which led us round to Sgurr nan Conbhairean, a very impressive looking hill. Once there a spot of lunch then down to Sail Chaorainn and back to the car, good day.

Enjoying the view from Sgurr nan Conbhairean

Walking above the cloud

Sgurr nan Conbhairean touching the cloud

Stob Coire Easian

I had a day free today so I went for a wee walk next to Loch Treig. I went up Meall Cian Dearg and bagged Stob a'Choire Mheadhion and Stob Coire Easian. Since it was a saturday the hills were rather busy on the way back down I passed thirteen people.

You can see from the picture the views were stunning!

Out For a Stroll

It was the annual Strathclyde Police Mountain Rescue Team winter week and my dad and I were up visiting the team at Kingussie. We had planned for two days climbing with the weather being quite favourable.
Today we had plans to meet up with Alistair to go and climb in Hells Lum but due to other circumstances we went for a long windy walk around the Northern Corries instead.

Looking into Coire An Lochain

Wandering

Mullach Nan Coirean

The climbing conditions were really quite rubbish so Craig and I headed to the Mamores for a wee walk. We headed up Mullach Nan Coirean however the weather didn't inspire us to hang around and enjoy the view. 

Stob Ban

I didn’t have much time today so I headed into the Mamores for a quick hit up Stob Ban.

Looking up towards the Summit of Stob Ban

Stob Ban and Sgurr a'Mhaim

After saying goodbye to Anne this morning, I went back to bed for a couple of hours kip. Woke up grabbed my kit and went for a wee stroll in the Mamores. The weather was 'Scottish' for most of the day, until I bagged the first Munro, then it decided to clear up...a bit.

Stob Ban

From the Lower falls car park I headed up Sron Dearg and summated Stob Ban in complete 'mankyness'.

Stob Ban from Lochan Coire nam Miseach

After being on the top, the weather cleared for a short spell.

Bidean Nam Bian From Stob Ban

On the right Sgurr a'Mhaim and Ben Nevis on the Left

The weather crapped out again for the descent and the wind bullied me all the way off the hill.

TIP OF THE DAY

If your bum is sore from cycling then don't sit on jaggy rocks.

Birthday Celebrations

It was my Birthday today and I had the day off. So Anne and me made use of the horrible weather and went for a walk up to Stob Coire Nan Lochan.

The weather was completely miserable, lots of rain and slushy snow. Its safe to say Anne did really well for her first taste of Scottish Winter Conditions.

More Skills More Beautiful Weather

Out with Lochaber college again today with Gillian. We headed into SCNL, briefly went over ice axe arrests but the main focus of the day was snow anchors and enjoying the weather, which was done.

It was a busy day in SCNL today with loads of groups crammed onto dorsal arete and in Broad GullyThe group walking off Lee Abseiling South African style

Mor Beautiful Weather

I was out again with Lochaber College doing more Winter Skills with a different group of the first year students on Aonach Mor, shadowing Gillian. We covered a wide range of techniques for moving in winter and looked at avalanche awareness.

These pictures were taken in Scotland. Honest

It doesn't take a genius to figure that the conditions are amazing just now. So hurry up and get on those hills before its too late.

Winter Skills on Aonoch Mor

Today I was out with Lochaber College shadowing Bill Strachan (Scotch on the Rocks Guiding). The weather and skiing conditions were absolutely brilliant, however we weren't skiing today. We were looking at avalanche awareness, ice axe arresting and moving with crampons.

Bill describing avalanches, using hands.

Moving on steep ground.

"Just come over here guys its not dangerous"

Everyone and myself included learned a lot from the day and had a great time with Bill. Looking forward to tomorrow because I will be doing it all over again.