COLD, FROZEN & A BIT WINDIER!

Intimidating conditions for novices 

Ian's smiling underneath

A deserted Coire an t-Sneachda 

Neve heaven

Time to head down

High winds and boulders 

Still smiling

A team abseiling off a route

A two pint end of day

Over the years I have taken many folk out in winter to skill up for bigger mountains in The Alps or great rangers. The Cairngorms and other Scottish mountains in winter offer amazing weather and snow conditions to cover a wide range of skills. We may not have high altitude or glaciated terrain but every other mountain aspect we have in abundance and beyond! Today the skills required to tackle the conditions was no exception . High winds, frozen snow and steep terrain are quite intimidating for a novice. Ian was out with me to gain some of these skills we encountered today. He's off to climb Aconcagua in a couple of weeks time and wanted to get some experience with ice axe, crampons and brutal weather! We certainly got the later. With wind speeds of 60mph even at lower altitudes made for a challenging day. Coire an t-Sneachda was deserted today. A few folk heading back down from the coire and only two other teams seen climbing.  Just like yesterday it was relatively sheltered high up in Sneachda.  After mid day the winds increased,  as forecasted,  to around 80mph guests. Time to head home. Back at Coire Cas carpark it was wild and deserted.  Fun day out and Ian gained loads of vital skills and experience of what a Cairngorm wind is like. All good for Aconcagua, another windy mountain!  Good luck to Ian on the highest peak in the Western hemisphere.
A footnote on yesterday's unfortunate climber. He's doing well with only minor injuries.  Great to hear.