Wet Wet West.

After setting foot in snow last Friday the rain and warm temperatures returned and have striped what snow there was.

Last week saw me spend a 4 days working inside at Ice Factor, which I was quite glad of. The shifts I worked saw me running taster rock & ice sessions and hit the ice lessons. I also put my hand to some route setting as well.



On Friday 15th Joe, Rich and myself went for a day on the hill, for them to practice hill skills and ML prep. I went for the jolly and fitness side of things and boy did the day not disappoint.

Rich either checking timings or timing Joe?
Good slick skills from the lads, made my day easy.

We set of  nice and early again and drove up to Kilfinnan at Loch Lochy as the pair of Munros near there none of us had been up.

Smiles all round o the summit.

We were off from the car at a leisurely pace around 1030, after our alpine start and aimed for a couple of gates in some fences to reach a flattening before a steady ascent onto the long ridge line that leads up and over two minor peaks before winding around to Sron a Choire Ghairbh. When we approached 600m the already blustery wind increased steadily to a rather strong breeze that became relentless which made for an entertaining part of the day. The small patches of soft snow that remain were more energy sapping than enthusiasm inducing but still nice to stomp through it at times. After a brief stop on the summit we headed for the bealach between Sron a Choire Ghairbh and Meall na Teanga from here we made the decision to head down, we'd been on the hill for a good 4 to 5 hours haveing our eyelids blown inside out and battling every step so we thought better than to continue on and be up high for any longer than necessary. The pat from the bealach down is brilliantly constructred and makes for a quick descent to the Great Glen way and back to the car, not without incident though as it seems no matter how old you get, jumping in puddles is still fun, especially when you soak everyone around you.

Winter looks to be setting in again this week as I write this, drove through sleet and snow on the way home today. Fingers crossed I can use new boots and axes ASAP!