Winter is over and the rock season has started!

I was out at Moy Rock today a conglomerate south facing crag, north of Inverness. Currently there are around 15 sport routes that have been fully equipped and climbed.  Andy Nisbet was at the crag today cleaning more lines to add to to the two new lines he put up last week with grades around F5+ or F6a.

Out and About in the Cairngorms

Ski centre closed today due to high winds, the paths in to the corries are covered in hard ice with a nice layer of water on top to reduce all forms of traction. Having a pair of poles today made progress possible.

It was a quiet today in the corries with only few teams climbing on Jacobs Ladder, Mirror Direct and a team heading up to the ground to the left of the saddle on the Fiacaill. Even the flat ice was empty today but I am sure it will be in use later on this week.

There were some groups making  there way up the Fiacaill but with the wind over 50 mph today it would be hard going up the ridge. Ski tourers from Glenmore Lodge were making their way over to Lurchers area. With more wind on its way I may need to spend some time at lower levels this week.

Skills in Coire an t-Sneachda

This Monday I was out with Adam in the Coires working on security on steep ground, after practicing different forms of belays we moved on to putting them in practice in Aladdin's Couloir.

Whilst moving up the couloir the RAF Sea King arrived in the corrie sending a wash of Air directly on to us making the conditions seem more like a normal Scottish winters day.

The snow today had a thick layer of frozen snow sitting on top of wet snow. But in the Gullies it was well consolidated.

Outward Bound in Lochaber and Glen Coe

The eight days before Christmas I was out with the Outward Bound instructors from Aberdovie. After a 14 hour journey from Wales through arctic weather they finally arrived and were ready to start a week of walking and climbing.

Here's what we got up to thanks to Matt for the Video.

Hopefully the colder weather will return before the start of the New year.

Hope you all have a good New Year and I hope see you all about next year!

Lale District Rock

With Scotland covered in water Andy and I decided to make our way to the lakes to take advantage of the slightly dryer climate. Climbing in Langdale at White Ghyll below the cloud with the rain starting Just as I toped out.