Sunday 23 February 2020

North West Scotland - winter climbing conditions update

A yellow warning day from the met office but we did get the occasional bright period yesterday morning. But it was wild on the hill with strong gale force Westerly winds blowing me off my feet at times. Climbing conditions seem to be improving  bit with some ice forming, although the buttresses keep being stripped of snow in our erratic melt freeze weather conditions... but cracks are beginning to fill up with neve and ice... so there are places where climbing could be quite acceptable. If only the strong winds would let one near it.
Above photo is of Beinn Bhan.
High on Liatach, its looking quite good, but it will be very windy up there.

Slioch, looking more wintry now.

Friday 14 February 2020

Chamonix off-Piste

Some heavenly conditions here in Chamonix!
woop wopp

Hannah in black and Cara foreground

 Cara- a few runs in and it was soon shredded

Reticent Hannah, go for it Cara

Cara enjoying the sun.

Monday 3 February 2020

A winters climb with Ewan.

We were lucky with the weather yesterday and my friend Ewan has been climbing for 60 years. Ewan was brought up in Fort William and started climbing when he was ten years of age- lets hope we can all  continue to move so well, maintain our enthusiasm and enjoy climbing.

Not the best of weather but it is Scotland.

This season many of our climbs are rather thin and a bit bare of snow, but higher in the gullies conditions are fine.

Classic Ewan - a few tangles with his ice axe leashes but a fine topping out photo!