Intro Snow and Ice

On February 22, 2014 by Tim Neill

This past week, working alongside Rudders, we ran an intro winter climbing course for Plas Y Brenin up here in Scotland. The weather started perfect and went on a sliding scale so we opted to make the most while we could…

Day 1 on the Curtain in primo conditions

We started with a Cold Climbs classic, the Curtain and its neighbour Curtain Rail. Day 2 saw us in Stob Coire nan Lochan to climb Twisting Grooves. With all the wild storms and whiteout on the day we kept the rope on to descend the ridge back to the coire floor because of multiple cornices and flat light. Dave climbed Raeburn’s Route. We took a short walk to the 1st platform below the NE Buttress on the Ben and climbed a rarely formed Newbigging’s Far Right route on soft ice while Dave climbed on the Douglas Boulder. We had similar conditions next day on the sure bet of N Buttress on the Buachaille in the ‘Coe….soft ice but still holding together and fun albeit with damp gloves.

Climbing to the 1st Platform on NE Buttress, Ben Nevis

Day 5 arrived with rain to the tops, tired legs and massive avalanches….we visited the indoor ice wall at Kinlochleven and got pumped. Thanks to Dave for the great input and Colin, Richard, Phil and Colin for being super keen!