AFTERTHOUGHT ARETE

Gavin, starting up Afterthought Arete

Looking down the arete, Sheltersone Crag beyond

Lovely rock, Afterthought Arete

Warming up along the Fiacaill Ridge

Loch Avon

Coire an t-Sneachda

Rime Ice above 1000m

On the Afterthought Arete

Hells Lum Crag

Splendid Shelterstone Crag

Last nights Harvest Moon

It's been a fair few years since I was last on Afterthought Arete. A wonderful 3 star easy rock climb on the Stag Rocks crag. I met up with Gavin who was up for a rock climbing day. Gavin his half way through his Masters Degree in Outdoor Pursuits so he was looking forward to a fun day out. This Moderate graded climb is in a stunningly beautiful and remote area of the Cairngorms. The weather forecast was for a dry and sunny day, light winds. Perfect. We warmed up by heading over the Fiacaill Choire Sneachda ridge. There was some rime ice above1000m in the Northern Corries this morning. The skies had cleared overnight and low temperatures. Stag Rocks is on a south facing aspect so we were looking forward to some warm rock and sunshine. We saw no one all day apart from two guys who we met exactly at the same time at the foot of the climb! Afterthought Arete is a lovely ridg line with a definite arete half way up. A stunning line. Brilliant day out, easy peasy climbing for Gavin who climbs Grade VI routes in winter. Back to another wet day tomorrow but drier on Sunday. Good to get the good days inbetween the miserable weather days!