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.

Hopefully The Start Of Something

After spending a week in Glasgow and being busy with other nonsense, I have hopefully my winter season has officially started. I was out with Craig and my Dad today, to play in the white stuff again. Due to the snow having disappeared again we were on the Buachaille hoping to stick to the ridges again.
After going some of the way up curved ridge it became clear that crampons and axes were needed. The snow is still very slushy and the turf isn't quite frozen, this didn't stop us from having a great time on the ridge. On that side of the hill we were out of the wind so we got the best of the weather as well.

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

Etive and Allt a' Chaoruinn

While everywhere was showing as a scrape on the water gauges at the moment. Alan and I headed down to meet other paddlers and hit the Etive. It was at a medium flow which meant it was quite trip down.
We took the boats up and hit Allt a' Chaoruinn which is always a laugh. It been a while since I have been on the rivers so it was good to jog the memory.

Plenty of snow and people

With all that snow the river was a bit chilly





Alan on Rock Slide

Bump and Scrape

After looking at the water gauges we thought that Nevis would have enough water. It wasn't as high as we had hoped but we still had a blast on it. We portaged Scimitar Gorge and got back in after the supply bridge. The river was quite technical and hard to spot a line most of the time but good fun.
As there is more and more snow on the hills I think the paddle will have to get put away for a while.



Plenty of snow on the hills

Dead Sheep Falls

Fresh Snow

That will be why the rivers are a tad chilly. I was out with Nevis Canoe Club, the orginal plan was to go to the Orchy, but with so much water around we decided to stay local and head to the Roy. We weren't the only ones to think the Roy would be a good idea, when we arrived we met Edinburgh Kayak Club.

Plenty of Safety

Keith B

Almost

 

More Assessments

I was out with West Highland College again today, although we spent the entire day in canoes. Going through lots of different paddle strokes. The weather wasn't the warmest but everyone did well to keep going throughout the day.
A couple of them were doing there two star assessment's which ment they had to take a dip! It's fair to say I didn't envy them but they did pass their two star.