WILD & WONDERFUL

Fab snow on the Fiacaill 

Simon enjoying the ridge

Italian Hitch

Tricky navigation in the winds

Alistair enjoying the ridge

Fab axe placements

Last bit

Coire an t-Sneachda busy

Flat Iron

Snow belays

The fine spell of settled weather with blues skies, light winds and wonderful views abruptly ended yesterday. The Atlantic weather systems are now influencing our weather. Today return clients Simon & Alistair are out with me for two days of mountain fun. They have been out with me several times in winter over the last few years. This weekend they wanted to gain a bit more experience in adventurous mountaineering terrain. Some would say going up Scottish mountains in winter is mountaineering. We headed into a windy and blustery Coire an t-Sneacda. There were plenty of folk out climbing. We ventured over to the Fiacaill Buttress area where it was very quiet. Some great snow conditions all the way into the coire with icy paths and no boulders to stumble through. The snow has consolidated well and it was great walking. Just the wind today! With gusts in excess of 50mph it made for challenging conditions. It was cold  and good to keep moving. After a few snow belays we headed up onto the Fiacaill Coire Sneachda to see how windy it was higher up! Once on the ridge it was almost calm! We were well protected from the SE gales. Some wonderful snow conditions along the route. We had it to ourselves. The guys loved it, fantastic all the way. On the plateau it wasn't too bad. Seemed the corries were getting the worse of the gales. The guys navigated off along the plateau. More challenging conditions, map reading and compass work in a cold wind with rime plastered clothing! Great fun. The walking across the plateau is now much easier being wind scoured.  A brilliant day to be out.