Sunday 26 November 2017

Drystane Ridge - Creag an Leth choin

 This climb  is at the Northern end of the Lairig Ghru, thewell known pass which is visible from the A9 as one drives by Aviemore. Both sides hold  cliffs  with some fine climbing on both sides. On the Cairn Gorm side is Lurcher's Crag (Craig an Leith-choin). Today we climbed Drystane Ridge which was first climbed by Andy Nisbet (Yellow/Red Jacckin the photos) in 2007 and he gave it the winter Scottish grade II. Today we kept to the ridge and  now think it is a 3/IV, although Andy led the crux pitch and went an interesting way which looked harder, I seconded it and taking a small step to the right, really just one small step (south side) I found a turfy steep crack, which I think was slightly easier at 3/IV. If you moved much lower you would eventually end up in grassy gully and would by- pass much of the climbing which kind of defeats the purpose.... ha ha, us climbers.....whatever the purpose is!?