FIRST WINTER SKILLS 2014

Joanna & Tim demonstrating the 'wet nappy' cramponing technique below Alladin's Buttress

The self belay

Step cutting

Looking good

Should be great with some melt/freeze

A new year and same weather patterns as 2013, constant stream of low pressure systems rolling in off the Atlantic with the odd 'semi calm day'. Today was one of those more pleasant days to be out, well when Joanna & Tim heard me say this they thought differently! They were out with me on a one day winter skills course. Conditions were great to practise and hone lots of different techniques: step cutting, cramponing and walking on steeper mixed terrain. We headed over to the Fiacaill Ridge in Corrie an t-sneachda before moving up below the Alladains Buttress area in the corrie. The winds weren't too bad, we had some lovely blue skies and only the odd light snow shower. We also looked at some avalanche awareness through out the day, still some weak layers in the snow pack. Great snow cover at the moment, down to 600m in The Cairngorms.