Today is a minging day in Lochaber!!! Wet and windy, appropriately qualifies as a cafe day some would say!

On Monday i spent the day with Helen and Dave on the West of Aonach Mor.

Dave and Me on an icy step.

Dave Barnard packing up at the route end

On Tuesday we headed over to the Cairngorm, where it was a little more wintry, unlike the sunny and calm west coast. However, a good day was had on Hidden Chimney with the Direct Start variation IV,5.

Me on the direct start IV,5

Dave Barnard on the direct start

Helen on the finishing moves of the direct start

Helen and Dave near windy gap

Wednesday i had to go to Edinburgh to pick up my passport from the Russian Embassy, stamped and visa'd ready for a Mt Elbrus Ski Ascent in early May. Can't wait for that one!

Driving in cities is a scary business, especially when you don't know where you are or where you are going!!

Winter Snows have returned - hooray!

After last week was a washou't of meltdown, the snows have returned to create some better conditions in the North again. Some of it a little too deep and powdery at times, but still can't all be perfect hey!

I retired to north wales last weekend to dry out, and do a centre inspection for the Welsh Canoeing Association on Monday. Then returned North to Edinburgh to apply for a Russian Visa for a trip planned later this year. What a major faff that was, visa offoce, embassy, photo booth, internet cafe, photocopy of this that and everything else! Then, i still couldn't collect on the day, have to go back next week instead and collect it!

Anyway, some sanity prevailed when i returned to the Highlands, and managed to beat the closing of the roads due to snow.

On Wednesday i mangaed to get out ski touring with Paul in an area south of Moy cottage on a beautiful powdery day, with blue skies and not a breath of wind. It was amazing as you can see.

Thursday was spent in the company of Cath, Helen and Gareth, who the day before had expended loads of effort by wading waist deep in snow to go up the Sron na Laraing ridge in Glencoe. We headed for Dinnertime buttress in Glencoe, following yet another dump of snow on wednesday night. Luckily we timed it right so that another team were ahead and breaking trail!

We had another beautiful day, making a rapid ascent and hooping over the top into Stob Coire Nan Lochan to see a very keen team having broke trail to attempt Dorsal Arete. Other teams had turned back, stating that it had nearly 4 hours to get anywhere near it! Luckily we were headed down hill in soft and fluffy underfoot cushioning! It was almost pleasant.

As a new member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors committee, i headed to my first meeting on thursday eve and then drove over to Cairngorm, in readiness to climb on friday with Nate. I awoke to a still morning on the banks of Loch Morlich in Glenmore, not a cloud in the sky and a flat calm lake reflecting the northern corries in her surface. I drove up to meet Nate and we haeded in to climb The Message IV,6. The pics below are of Nate on his pitches 1 and 3.