Snow Keeps on Coming!

(Steve): I have just spent two days instructing Allan and Fergus. Yesterday we swam our way upto North Buttress on Buachaille Etive Mor which was a lesson in itself. I find there are times to work like a dog and others to stay calm and in control, even though I ploughed as hard as my legs would allow it still took nearly 3 hours to get to the foot of the chimneys. We then settled in for three great pitches of thoughtful climbing on old snow and neve before two long abseils back down again. A nice first grade IV for the pair and a proper winters day out.
Today we targeted a few holes in Fergus and Allans climbing experience by heading to the ice factor for some coaching. There were lots of opportunity to progress skills and improve climbing efficiency, hopefully it’ll stay with the pair for more winter adventures to come.

With so much snow getting to winter climbs is proving to be a bit tricky at the moment, and so Ken and Cammy opted to climb on Gearr Aonach in Glencoe, where they climbed a variation of the Zig-Zags Direct before descending a very snowy Zig-Zags. A couple of other teams were lower down on the Zig-Zags but with the sheer volume of snow they chose not to push on up onto the ridge of Gearr Aonach.

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