POINT FIVE GULLY. BEST SNOW CONDITIONS, SO FAR.....

Brilliant snow in Point Five Gully

Tom going for the top

Alice nearing the top

Great ice at the Flat Iron

Fiacaill Buttress

Alladin's Couloir

Flat Iron

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Start of another 4 Day Winter Course today. This week I am joined by Alice & Tom. We headed into Coire an t-Sneachda, the trail into the coire is now well trodden and firm snow/ice. A doddle! Even through the boulders there is a great path with now holes! We went through some crampon technique on The Flat Iron area where the ice was superb. With bags of confidence and great snow coupled with lovely weather we headed up Point Five Gully. This is a brilliant wee route onto the plateau. Almost Grade 1 or maybe it is a graded gully? The snow all the way up from the coire floor to the plateau was superb. The best conditions so far this season. After yesterdays warm spell and rain the snow pack had consolidated. With a clear night and a refreeze everything was just wonderful. Shame that the temperatures are rising drastically! This afternoon the plateau temperature was well above freezing and there was slush being formed. We finished off the day with some axe arresting on the eastern slopes of the Fiacaill Coire Cas. The walk back down was a treat too, no pot holes and no 'Ministry of Funny Walks'. A great first day. Warm tomorrow! Lets see what goes and what stays!