February, started so positively. Can I keep it up?

February 2nd. Ratho E.I.C.A. Largest indoor climbing facility in the UK (and the world?) I sat my CWA assessment. Climbing Wall Award. This qualification allows me to work at indoor, or man made structures designed for climbing. It is a very basic qualification at the bottom of a long ladder but its a start. Chuffed to get it done and dusted. Now to focus on the next qualification. Summer ML assessment.

I also started back at uni this month and even though I was apprehensive and unsure whether I wanted to continue I am pretty happy with the way the semester has started and the new modules I am taking. Plus there is always the practicals to keep you motivated. First practical of the academic year was missed because of work commitments but the second was not missed and I am glad I turned in for it.


Winter skills, Leadership, Decision making, Group management and a whole host of other learning points were there to be taken from the day.

The venue Coire na Tulaich, Stob Dearg, Buachille etive Mor.

Coire na Tulaich

On the slog in. 

We slogged it along the path to get onto snow as soon as possible. The banter and spirits high in a group of varying ages and experience. At the helm Mr Kirkhope MIC. We looked at decision making, when, where, why to put crampons on. Route choices, snow accumulations and safety. Found a small pocket of wind slab and demonstrated the ease of setting it off. Crampons were donned at an appropriate point and we made a bee line for some iced up rocky steps to climb on. Dream time, climbing up how ever small and benign it is, is always better than walking up. But these steps weren't just for fun, they were a really good place to look at how and why you would have to manage a group carefully on such steps and highlight the consequences of not doing so. 
The steps were not difficult climbing and require no rope but the consequences of a slip, trip or fall were very serious. As a group I want to think we were all aware of this but .........?

I took everything in my stride at the start of the day, not wanting to be cocky but to push myself harder. Moving up snow slopes, with crampons and axes is the bread and butter of winter mountaineering and I feel pretty comfortable and confident at this but it is always to good to practice and test your skills. I asked every question in my head and tried to get people to think of more by provoking them by giving tips, hints, instruction or tuition in some skills. I don't know if they took it on board as I am peer, but its still good to give as well as take in this industry. When we eventually topped out of the coire we were greated by fantastic views down Glen Etive and across "the Coe" to the "hurt lochan", Aoanch Eagach, Bidean nam Bean and the baby Buachaille. After some scenic apprecitation we commenced a saunter not far off what you see down the high street of every town in the country to the summit of Stob Dearg. Half an hour later and a couple coffee's from flasks and frozen biscuits, No starbucks or costa up there, we were admiring the splendorous sight that is Rannoch moor from a height of 1022m. This vast empty space in the highlands cant really be seen unless you get some elevation and there is no better view point than from the summit of Stob Dearg.

The vast expanse of Rannoch moor

  A couple of snaps from the ascent of coire na tulaich.

Quality

Manage this?

After some chat at 1022m and identifying layers in the snow with some blackcurrent. we headed back to the coire to descend back the way we came, This would give us all a good chance to practice some vital skills and one person in particular a real life chance to practice a skill that will save your live if you do it right and react quick enough. Fortunately the slip, trip and inevitable slide did not end badly but it could have been a lot different. A member of the group tripped and fell while descending on a steep slope of neve (hard snow ice) they slid head first to begin with before managing to turn themselves round and attempt to self arrest. They slid for roughly 100m's luckily avoiding scree, rocks and not catching a crampon and tumbling. Eye opening, and a jaw dropping reminder of how serious an environment mountains are to work and play in but the biggest thing for me was how quickly it all happened. Luckily it didn't spoil our day and gave us something to laugh about in the pub later on. A great day out that has given me a lot to think about before the next one, what ever that may be. 

Understanding the snow pack and layers with Ribena?