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| Richard enjoying the challenge of 70mph+ winds |
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| Did the wind stop gravity? |
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| Self belay/heading into high winds and anything in between! |
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| Crampon technique |
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| More sliding |
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| Step cutting |
Another testing day to be out on the hills, higher than forecasted winds made movement anywhere difficult. Lynsey, Bob, Richard & Tom where out with me today for a one day introduction to winter and what an introduction! From the carpark at Coire Cas it was already blowing a hoolie. We struggled our way up to the foot of the Fiacaill Ridge with the southerly winds right in our faces along with loads of windblown snow. Communication was agonising, shouting in the gales but we managed to pack lots of essential skills into the day including basic movement on snow (and wind), step cutting, cramponing technique, self arrests and some avalanche awareness. Probably the biggest skill today was coping with the severe conditions and having the correct kit to keep you comfortable and alive! We had a great glissade back down the slopes at the end of the day and rolled (blown) into a deserted Cairngorm Mountain car park. Well done to my guys today, a lot of folk would (and did) turned tail in these conditions. If anyone found some of my group gear today on the hill please can you drop me a line, a Mountain Technology ice axe (paint worn off, aluminium colour and a Petzel Ecrin helmet-red coloured) thanks. The guys found that things fly off in the wind and skate down icy slopes at speed in this kind of weather! We had a scout about at the end of the day so maybe the items ended up in Loch Morlich?
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