EASIER UNDERFOOT & FABULOUS WEATHER

Mick below the cliffs of mess of Pottage

Fiacaill Buttress and ridge

Snow consolidating slowly

Rope work

Coire an t-Sneachda

Alladin's Couloir & Fiacaill Buttress

Jacob's Ladder

Spot the climbers

Day 3 of Mick's winter course with me this week. Another day of steep ground experience. We took a well trodden trail into Coire an t-Sneachda this morning. What a morning it was! Beautiful sunrise, hardly a breeze and sub zero temperatures again. We walked over to the Mess of Pottage crag, away from the Easterly aspects thereby avoiding the avalanche potential on these slopes. There was a big difference in the amount of wind slab since we were in the corrie just two days previous. Fiacaill Buttress and the area below this well snowed up. We've had moderate to strong winds and more snowfall since the start of this week. The area below the Mess of Pottage and up towards Windy Col was a good choice today. Mick was wanting some instruction with rope work whilst on steeper terrain. We went through a variety of rock anchors and belays as we worked our way up to the plateau. There were a few teams climbing on the Mess. Apart from these climbers the corrie was quiet. It was a stunning day to be out with fabulous views and more blue skies. Winds swing to the North tomorrow, more cold conditions.I'm liking this December compared to December 2016!