WINTER SKILLS, CAIRNGORMS

Coire an Lochain

Good snow for cutting steps

Still some areas of windslab about

Axe arresting down Lurchers Gully (icy)

The team bagging the summit of Lurchers Crag

Mixed and icy terrain

End of the day fun, sliding down Lurchers

Today I was out with Rob, David, Steve & Tom on a one day winter course. The guys were wanting to get as many winter  skills as possible on this bespoke course. We covered lots of vital skills including the basics of axe and crampon technique, avalanche awareness and some axe arresting toward the end of the day. The guys are going off on a snow hole trip on their own tomorrow so I also gave them some local knowledge of good locations to spend a night in the snow. It was a pleasat day to be out on the hills with only the odd brief snow shower, high cloud base and not too much wind. It was a cold wind and there was some drifting of snow later in the day. We headed into Coire an Lochan and then over to Lurchers Gully and up to the summit. Some good areas of hard snow to play in which made walking much easier today and no wading in drifts (that's another skill to acquire).