|  | Newsgroup - uk.rec.climbing | | | Diese Inhalte werden aus dem Usenet dargestellt und gehören nicht zu alpinisten.info Es wird keine Haftung für fremde Inhalte übernommen (siehe Impressum) | | | Zurück zur Übersicht |  | Scottish Winter Mountaineering | | Bergsteiger beim Bergsteigen | 28.01.07 18:42 Uhr |
|  | Auf diese Nachricht antworten!  | Posted back end of Nov last year, seeking advice on a Winter Mountaineering course I was contemplating doing with Jagged Globe. Wasn't familiar with the company's suggested climbs, so I sought recommendations. Anyway, took onboard the advice, booked, and completed the course last week. Fantastic week, with plenty of snow and, what I thought as a beginner, excellent climbing.
Started on day 1 with refreshing winter skills in the Buachaille Etive Mor area, covering iceaxe arrest, crampon use and rope work on steep snow slopes. Very good day, with stunning view from the top of the gully we ascended.
Day 2 we climbed Dorsal Arête on the right-side of Broad Gully below Stob Coire nan Lochan. Weather pretty bleak, but the snow was reasonable with some compact frozen areas. Long walk in from Glen Coe, and what seemed an even longer walk out after descending Broad Gully.
Day 3 was a ride in the Nevis Ski Range gondola and chair lift, followed by about 40 minute walk to our climbing area on Aonach Mor. Again, in the cloud and a little windy with fine snow falling. However, once we abseiled down to the start, we escaped the wind. Another good climb, which was rewarded with some fantastic evening views on the way down after the clouds rose. And, thanks to Ed Chard, our instructor for the day, a very nice 'gate' through the cornice for our exit!
Day 4 was a real challenge .... and a 9 hour outing! Drove up to the parking area, passing Nevis Ski area, and walked in to near the CIC hut. Turned up towards Number 3 Gully, and slowly made our way up the snow. Had a drink and bite to eat, then on gear and continued up to the buttress on the left of the gully. Great climb, although long and a difficult, with a tricky rock step close to the top. Late topping out, 4:15pm. so we had a rather dark and late walk back to the transport. Good recommendation to carry head torches!
Day 5, our final day, was the Stob Coire nan Lochan horseshoe. Lot of snow-melt overnight, so the scramble up the zigzag route at the start was rather wet. Good ridge walk to the base, then we reached the snow again for the final ridge to the summit. Not as technical as previous outings, but still an exciting summit. Clouds again cleared on the way down providing more stunning views.
So, over the week we worked up to Scottish Grade II, then Grade II/III on Aonach Mor, followed by Grade III from No 3 Gully Ben Nevis, finishing with the Stob Coire nan Lochan horseshoe.
Ironic really, as it was only last September that I plucked up courage to cross Sharp Edge to Blencathra in the Lake District!
Thanks to all who provided advice.
A selection of pretty 'snowy' mountain photos in a slideshow at the web address below.
-- Sandy Saunders @ [externer Link] \
'Mountains or Mole Hills ..... summiting still brings the same excitement'
| | | | Zurück zur Übersicht |  | Scottish Winter Mountaineering | | Bergsteiger beim Bergsteigen | 29.01.07 15:55 Uhr |
|  | Auf diese Nachricht antworten!  | In message <If5vh.61610$v4.25261@newsfe3-win.ntli.net> "sandy saunders" <sandy.saunders@ntlworld.com> wrote:
> Posted back end of Nov last year, seeking advice on a Winter > Mountaineering course I was contemplating doing with Jagged Globe. > Wasn't familiar with the company's suggested climbs, so I sought > recommendations.
I remember.
> Anyway, took onboard the advice, booked, and completed the course > last week. Fantastic week, with plenty of snow and, what I thought > as a beginner, excellent climbing. > [snip] > So, over the week we worked up to Scottish Grade II, then Grade II/III > on Aonach Mor, followed by Grade III from No 3 Gully Ben Nevis, > finishing with the Stob Coire nan Lochan horseshoe. > > Ironic really, as it was only last September that I plucked up courage > to cross Sharp Edge to Blencathra in the Lake District! > > Thanks to all who provided advice. > > A selection of pretty 'snowy' mountain photos in a slideshow at the > web address below. >
Good to get the feedback and Trip Report. Glad you had such a good time and it sounds as if you were fortunate with the weather and snow conditions.
Cheers,
Mike -- o/ \\ // || ,_ o Mike Clark, "An antibody engineer who also <\__,\\ // __o || / /\, likes the mountains" "> || _`\<,_ // \\ \> | Cambridge Climbing and Caving Club ` || (_)/ (_) // \\ \_ <URL:[externer Link] >
| | | | Zurück zur Übersicht |  | Scottish Winter Mountaineering | | Bergsteiger beim Bergsteigen | 29.01.07 18:10 Uhr |
|  | Auf diese Nachricht antworten!  | > Good to get the feedback and Trip Report. Glad you had such a good time > and it sounds as if you were fortunate with the weather and snow > conditions.
I must admit, when I booked the course in November I thought maybe it was a mistake for that early in Jan. There seemed to be a distinct lack of snow, and me thought not much of a Winter Mountaineering Course if no snow! Anyway, kept a constant watch on the Snow Reports on Nevis Ski Range website, and the white stuff from above came at just the right time. Thank you o mighty one!
-- Sandy Saunders @ [externer Link] \
'Mountains or Mole Hills ..... summiting still brings the same excitement'
| | | | Zurück zur Übersicht |  | Scottish Winter Mountaineering | | Bergsteiger beim Bergsteigen | 20.02.07 17:25 Uhr |
|  | Auf diese Nachricht antworten!  | Hi, Sandy & all,
"sandy saunders" <sandy.saunders@ntlworld.com> wrote in message news:If5vh.61610$v4.25261@newsfe3-win.ntli.net... > Posted back end of Nov last year, seeking advice on a Winter Mountaineering > course I was contemplating doing with Jagged Globe. Wasn't familiar with > the company's suggested climbs, so I sought recommendations. Anyway, took > onboard the advice, booked, and completed the course last week. Fantastic > week, with plenty of snow and, what I thought as a beginner, excellent > climbing. <snip> > Thanks to all who provided advice.
Welcome, glad to see you had such a good trip, and took the trouble to report back on the newsgroup! I've archived your report to the usual place
[externer Link]
I hope you are able to capitalise on the experience in your further climbing.
Steve P
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