Scottish Winter Conditions - Fiacaill Couloir, Coire an t-Sneachda, 23rd March 2014.



Yet another wild and windy walk in to Coire an t-Sneachda today, with Ian, Jon and Willy. The loose plan was to see what was doable in the current conditions, and we loitered around the big boulders in the middle of the coire, along with everybody else trying to work what was doable! In the end we opted to head for Twin Ribs, but it was still very open to the wind, so I reckoned if we got got close in to Fiacaill Buttress we might get some shelter. However as we headed left into the bottom of Fiacaill Couloir, it looked like the couloir itself would be the place to go.

There was already one team in the couloir, and another just about to set off, plus another team belaying their leader off to the right, somewhere up the buttress. So we had a bit of a wait until our first team of Ian and Willy could get going. Eventually we all got on the move and I lead Jon up his first grade 2/3 route.

Looking down from the ledge of our second belay, just above a nice section of snow ice.

Jon, enjoying himself (I think?), coming up to the second belay.

Climbers on the Fiacaill Buttress to our right.

Looking up the last pitch to where the chockstone (now well buried)would be.

Jon about to top out of Fiacaill Couloir. From here, we made our way along easy ledges and steps, up and around to the top of the Fiacaill Ridge.

Looking across the coire fromn the top of Fiacaill Ridge.

Coire an Lochain to the right of the ridge.

Looking across the top of Aladdins Couloir with Cairngorm summit beyond.

Looking back at Fiacaill Butrress and Ridge from above the Mess of Pottage area.

HD Video of Fiacaill Couloir.