Scottish winter conditions - Meall Corranaich, Sunday 17th November 2013.

Almost spring like conditions on the way up from the new car park where the old Lawers visitors centre used to be. Lots of folks heading up the other path to Ben lawers, but not many going our way.

Much of last weeks snow has now gone, just patches here and there.  

A patch of snow we found to cross on the route to Meall Corranaich from the bealach between it and the Lawers ridge.

Some snow and small cornices left on the ridge running from Meall Corranaich to
Coire Liath.

Tess waiting for a snack on the way up!

From  Meall Corranaich we descened to Coire Liath, then carried on to Meall a' Choire Leith (seen as in the distance as we didn't stay too long on it's bleak and windy summit!).

Tess checking out the cornices for us!!!

Ok, it will hold 25 kilos!

Signs of the thaw and re-freeze.

Video of Tess enjoying the snow on Meall Corranaich.

Mixed conditions on Striding Edge, 20th January 2013.



The forecast seemed to suggest deteriorating weather conditions in Glencoe, so we journeyed south to enjoy "slightly" better weather on our round of Striding Edge and Swirral Edge. The ridge wasn't completely covered so it was a choice of "crampons or no crampons". We chose the latter on the grounds we would end up on our backsides with them on.
A bitterly cold day, in fact too cold to sit for long at the summit shelter on Helvellyn. The descent of Swirral Edge was also a bit wild at times but soon eased off. Not as busy as a summers day, but still a few folk about , plus we saw a couple of teams(climbing) top out on Helvellyn. 

Quite a bleak looking day ahead of us but at least we could make out where we were going! 

Not quite enough snow on the ridge to warrant crampons, but extra care was needed in any case.

   

Highest wild camp in Britain - Ben Nevis summit, 14th-15th April 2012.

After lots of talk and crazy ideas, I finally realised an ambition of mine to camp on the summit of Ben Nevis this weekend. Myself and Ian left the North Face car park at about 3pm (ish) on Saturday afternoon and headed up to the top car park, from where we struck off up to the Halfway Lochan to gain the tourist path. At this point, the forecast, "isolated snow flurries and light winds" started! We didn't see that many folk, just onr guide and his clients coming down after climbing "Good Friday", I think and  two guys who'd done "Gardyloo Gully". Everyone else was the usual mixed bag the prepared and not so...     

Ian approaching a gloomy, deserted summit.After the Red Burn, the snow became more consolidated, but once off the zig-zags the going became heavier with a slight crust over a softer layer making the going (with a large pack) really hard work. At one point it almost became map reading time as the cloud closed in, until we spotted the next cairn and avoided the faff of navigating in bad weather! You have to wonder, is it foolhardy or brave for the "samba/jeans/anorak" crowds to go out there in such changeable conditions? I know my view, but they must look as incredulously at us (in our finest), as we do at them in their sports-fashion outfits!     

An even gloomier, deserted summit. Not the clear skies and stunning views we had hoped for. We did see a couple more climbers just topping out on Tower Ridge at about 7 - 7.30pm, and then two more that seemed to come from the North East Buttress/Observatory Ridge area and passed our tent as they (had to now with the visibility) navigated their way off the plateau. Once we had the tent pitched and extra layers on, it was into the sleeping bags and time to cook. Phoning home had to be done over by the Trig Point, which was a bit nippy in the wind, and then run back to the tent! Around 8.30 ish a group of "Three peakers", arrived at the summit so we spoke to them for a while from the comfort of our tent, before we wished them farewell.   

After dinner (ready mix pasta, hot chocolate and a flapjack), we decided to take a look outside the see if visibility had improved, and to walk off dinner! Sadly, there was still lots of broken cloud, although some stars could be seen. No lights down at the CIC Hut, but Corpach was visible. The wind still came and went and it was hard to tell if it was actually snowing or just spindrift. The after dinner walk, consisted of peering over the edge into Tower Gully and running round the summit shelter a few times - mainly to keep warm!      

After a "cool", but not too uncomfortable night (2 baselayers, 2 pairs of thermal leggings, 2 pairs of socks, down gillet, belay jacket inside the bag with my feet in it, hat and gloves) on my self de-flating mattress, I eventually got up around 7.30 am. The sun had been up since 6, or earlier, but it was a little warmer in my sleeping bag than a few hours prior so I had a lie in. A quick breakfast of flapjacks, chocolate and banana in hot milk, was followed by another jog around the summit shelter to get the blood flowing! 

My early morning view from the tent door. At this point some more 3 peakers arrived, but with a difference. They were cycling between all 3 peaks, and then riding to London in time to do the Marathon on Sunday 22nd! 

So, after breakfast we were up and out to enjoy the morning sun and the stunning views from Britains's highest mountain. It was still a bit nippy, but another couple of laps around the shelter soon got the blood flowing again and it was time for some kodak moments. 

A much better view of Tower Ridge (and a bit of Tower Gully), with the Ledge Route and Carn Dearg to it's right. Pity about my shadow in the picture though. With crampons on we felt much safer wandering around near the edge.

Carn Dearg again, and Tower Ridge in front, all the way down to almost the CIC Hut.

The CMD (Carn Mor Dearg Arete) looking amazing in the spring sunshine and Aonach Mor and the ski area behind.

Ian and myself at the summit trig point getting some warmth from the sun. Despite appearances, there was still a chilly breeze.   

A couple of young "Three Peakers", Dan and Lewis from Peterborough, who appeared and had a chat with us. Well done lads, and I hope you stayed awake for the drive home...

Ian making his way down over the boulder field to the start of the arete. Although most of the rock was covered, there was still a slight crust on the surface of the snow, so even going downhill was energy sapping. It also got a little warmer as we got some shelter from the NE Buttress.  

Another layer off, and it was down to business on the arete. We met one guy on his way up, so no real trench had been formed to speak of, and with heavy packs we had to be carefull about how we place our feet between rock and fresh snow.  

Ian on the arete with Carn Mor Dearg, the highest point, in the distance.

Another slog up the summit of Carn Mor Dearg! We did see a team of two making their way up towards the base of the arete below the abseil posts area. I think there is a climb there, but not sure of the name?   

The arete and summit of the Ben looking  very alpine.

Ian on Carn Mor Dearg.

Myself and "Mac", on Carn Mor Dearg. Just one small subsiduary top to cross and it's all downhill, back to the CIC Hut path, the top carpark and down to the North Face car park.    

One last view straight across to Number 5 Gully in the centre, Ledge Route to it's right, the two Castle Gullies and the Castle itself. 

Sunday morning in the Pentland Hills - 5th December 2010.

At last we had some decent weather, although time and family was against us getting further north, so myself and Stevie opted for a quick jaunt on the Pentlands. We were the only people in the Flotterstone car park at 0730 in the morning and it was still dark as we left the trees near the rangers hut and made our way up to Turnhouse Hill. As we neared the summit, the sun was rising over the Lammermuirs to the east bringing a little warmth as it was still very cold on the tops. Even walking in the Pentlands can be difficult in winter if you're not prepared!  

From Turnhouse Hill we made our way to Carnethy Hill where after 2 hours (yeah 2 hours!) we stopped for a cup of tea and some happy snaps of Scald Law and East and West Kips in the distance. It was still bitterly cold, so I put on my Montane belay jacket over a Rab shell, over a North Face windstopper fleece and a Smartwool baselayer to keep warm. However we did have great views over to the kips with not a soul in sight, bar for one lone figure on South Black Hill.

It wasn't until we turned and headed back down off Carnethy towards Turnhouse that we passed two guys skinng up on skis, with another heading up from the west. Maybe that's something I should look into for the future as I'm sure that must save time on the descents.

 

The lone ski tourer nearing the summit of Carnethy.

Stevie on his way back up Turnhouse hill from the stile between it and Carnethy.

Looking back at Carnethy from Turnhouse with the morning sun almost on the summit.

Raised footprints near the summit of Turnhouse showing how the wind has been moving the snow around over the past few days.

The hills starting to get busy now with ski tourers, snowboarders and walkers.

Clear blue skies against the trees on the foresummit of Turnhouse Hill.

The final descent down to the car park at the Flotterstone Inn.

Guess where?

With the prospect of snow on the A9 to Aviemore and even greater chance of having to wade into Sneachda, we opted for a shorter day somewhere closer to home? Nothing too challenging or technical but in the unlikely chance of a really cold spell and some freeze thaw cycles, this little gully would be great for messing about in!

This final picture should give it away!

Fiacaill Couloir - Is this the end of winter?

What a difference from our last visit to Coire an t-Sneachda! We were down to base layers as we sweated our way from the base of the corrie up the start of the Fiacaill Coulior which is hidden away on the side of the Fiacaill Buttress.

From here we weren't too sure of how much snow was in the couloir itself but as a grade II/III we thought it would make a good end to the season (if it is the end!).

As far as we could tell, Central Gully was complete; The Runnel looked bare in the chimney (?), not sure if Central Left Hand, Crotched or Spiral were complete. Jacobs Ladder and Aladdins Coulior (not in picture) looked ok.

Willy, leading the way up to the base of the Fiacaill Buttress.

Almost alpine conitions as Gordon makes his way up the approach slopes to the couloir.

Viewed from the Fiacaill Ridge, which we descend, the couloir looks deceptively steep and patchy, which it was (patchy that is). I remember looking at it last year as we came up the ridge and thought, "What kind of idiots go up there!" Ahem.

Looking back into the couloir from further down the ridge, with Coire an Lochan over to the right.

All in all a hard (for us) but enjoyable day, despite the snow/ice conditions (or lack of in some places), and we managed to stay fastened to the mountain by some means for 99.9% of the time!!!

Hopefully we will make it back next year and climb it earlier in the season!