WINTER MOUNTAINEERING

Mick loving the mountaineering

Snow belays

Mick leading the way

Visibility at 800m

Some navigation

Brilliant

Up and down

Visibility at 1100m

Rimed up ridge

Day 4 of Mick's Winter Course with me. Today it was all about putting the skills gained over the last 3 days into action. Mick did all the route planning, decision making, avalanche awareness and navigation. There was more overnight snow and snow showers through the day. The cloud base was below 700m when we set off and we were in the cloud all day. The trail into Coire an t-Sneachda was hardly trodden again today. So another day of hard graft trail breaking in places. We went over to the foot of the Fiacaill Coire Sneachda where there has been plenty of snow drifting onto the Eastern side of the ridge. Some good slopes to go through some snow anchors before gaining the ridge proper. There was a cold Northerly today and the now showers soon got going, coupled with plenty of spindrift. Higher up the ridge and the rocks were well rimed up. Mick did a grand job of leading and we had a brilliant afternoon. Poor visibility of course on the plateau.So some more navigation to get us back off and down to end a brilliant 4 days. Cheers Mick and hope to see you in the New Year!