Escape from Colditz, Blaven & catch-up -

So, what’s been going on since the last post? Quite a bit, which probably explains the lack of blogging over the past few days.

I’ve been running an Intro to Winter Mountaineering course for Moran Mountain, up in the NW Highlands. On Sunday, we chose to stay low, to avoid the worst of the winds and made an ascent of the brilliantly named Six Track Mono Blues Gully on Meall Gorm, which must be contender for the most accessible winter climbing cliff in the UK. Being in the lee of the mountain gave us plenty of shelter, and Sele, Gavin and Dave (who joined us for the day) enjoyed their first foray in NW Highlands.

: On the approach to Meall Gorm

: Dave leading Six Track Mono Blues Gully, Meall Gorm

: On the summit plateau of Meall Gorm

Hannah wrapped up a Winter Skills & Summits course by making an ascent of Stob Coire Raineach in Glencoe.

Rod and his team of mountaineers were also out in Glencoe, and made an ascent of the Zig-Zags in order to stay out of the worst of the winds.

On Monday, Chris kicked off our Advanced Winter Climbing Course by climbing Scabbard Chimney on Stob Coire nan Lochan. Chris and John then had enough time to fire up Dorsal Arete too. Not bad going for day 1!

I headed round with Gavin to climb the ever faithful George, which is more often in condition that not through the winter. It’s worth noting that the tunnel through route has collapsed recently, and so the options are to climb on the right, up awkward slabs, which are better and more secure when well iced (which it wasn’t today), or a short chimney slightly further to the right. Umbrella Falls was climbed that day and reported to be in good nick.

: Team on Umbrella Falls, Liathach

: On the easier pitches of George

: Gavin going for it on George, Liathach

: Gavin enjoying the ice, George, Liathach

: The collapsed through route, George, Liathach

On Tuesday, Chris and John, on the Advanced Winter Climbing Course were joined by Mike, and they climbed Morwind on the East Face of Aonach Mor, whilst I was out with my Intro Winter Climbing team sampling the delights of one of the deep, atmospheric gullies of the NW Highlands, Deep North Gully on Beinn Alligin. We continued over the Horns to give a brilliant day out.

: Looking up Deep South Gully, Beinn Alligin

: Looking down Deep North Gully, Beinn Alligin

: Sele leading in Deep North Gully

: The way ahead in Deep North Gully

: Above the crux step in Deep North Gully

: On the Horns of Alligin

Today, Hannah enjoyed a day of personal climbing with Steve. They stayed low on Ben Nevis, to avoid the suspect slopes, and climbed Gutless, an under-graded and under-rated chimney on the West Face of the Douglas Boulder. Chris and his team climbed Castle Ridge. Several other teams also out enjoying the good weather by making ascents of The Curtain, Waterfall Gully, Tower Ridge, Vanishing Gully and possibly Stringfellow. Still quite a bit of avalanche prone slopes though, so care and careful route choice required.

: Ben Nevis this morning

: Icy on Ben Nevis!

: The Shroud has touched down

: Steve on pitch 2, Gutless, Ben Nevis

: Hannah topping out of the main pitch on Gutless

: Hannah leading off to join the SW Ridge.

Finally, I decided to venture to Skye with my team, and climbed the short but good value Escape from Colditz III, on Blaven. The route takes a deep leftwards trending fault on Winter Buttress, and follows a narrow, icy ramp, underneath a curtain of icicles. We climbed the route in two pitches, offering interesting climbing all the way on dribbling ice.