Saturday, 16 December 2017

FIACAILL COIRE AN T-SNEACHDA

Sam on the Fiacaill
Rime again

Snow consolidating slowly
Sam having a great time under the mask!
Steep bits
Steep down there
Self belay
More rime
Sam,summit celebrations
Fun

Sam is out with me this weekend on a 2 Day Course. Another bespoke winter course which always prove favourable over a mixed group skills for my clients. Sam's only experience of winter mountaineering before today was a couple of hours in an indoor ice climbing wall at his home village of London! So today it was into the big outdoors and some 'real' winter mountaineering. Another sub zero temperatures day, around minus 5 on the tops. Full cover of snow to all levels. The going was made easier with a 'Saturday into Coire an t-Sneachda' trench. About time someone else did all the trail breaking this week :) . We headed over to the  lower slopes of the Fiacaill Coire an t-Sneachda ridge to run through some axe and boot techniques prior to heading up the hill. Sam was up for something steeper and exciting so we headed up onto the ridge. Third time this week on the Fiacaill for me, a great day out as always. Sam was loving every minute and quick learning all the skills required to negotiate the route. The sun was trying to break through the thin cloud cover and we had some nice glimpses of the hills. Only light winds today but still from a Northerly direction so very cold. Full cover of snow on the plateau but this too is consolidating slowly and the walking much easier than early this week. Great day out and great company.
Temperature change tomorrow as we get some SW's. Should prove great for the snow pack with a refreeze. Winter continues.....

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