A week that veered from enjoyable and informative to
exhaustive and rather worrying. This was
a chance to add some technical skills and tricky condition experience to my
prior and rather old school approach of going fast and light to power through
the terrain and weather – not really an option on the beasts to come!
First was a crash weekend course in beginner’s winter skills
(crampons, ice axes etc) run by Mat followed by a week of trying out my skills
and equipment in anger led by Zac (see his blog Jan 14th to 18th
for a bit more of the detail - http://www.mountainzblog.blogspot.com).
Highlights include:
·
Rarely getting off the mountain before dark.
·
Climbs included: Ledge Route, Curved Ridge, Aonach
Eagach Ridge,
·
Getting to the top of my first proper climb
(using crampons, ice axe and rope) in time for a stunning sunset.
·
Finding that my ‘tester’ grade III climb had
changed into a grade IV in the conditions – cue moments of reflection as to
what I was doing whilst teetered on a very narrow ledge with only one prong of
my crampons and a rather precarious grip on my ice axe preventing me falling
several thousand feet! To put things into perspective, I was also roped at the
time but had not yet come to ‘trust’ the rope and so far from finding it a
comfort it was still then a source of concern as being asked to put it on
clarified that we had reached a particularly dangerous section of the route.
·
Spending time in the national ice centre and
trying out the climbing wall in my Everest boots! More importantly, this
included jumping off practice; it is amazing how much easier climbing becomes
once you have realised that other people are not all incompetent and that a
slip won’t lead to you plummeting to your death!
·
Getting to the highest point in the UK (Ben
Nevis) in 85+ mph winds. Walking while leaning at something like a 45% angle is
certainly an experience.
The drive back down was more fun and games with the wretched
sat nav and an unfortunate petrol stop on the Southern Glasgow bypass became a
battle of wills to get back onto the motorway. I claim victory on this occasion
but the lady gets revenge when (still refusing to accept the existence of the
M6 toll road) she cunningly diverts me onto the M1 rather than the M40 from
Birmingham with allowing her to direct me though all the major traffic jams on
my resulting traipse across London.
About as much fun as you can legally have in the snow!
Emerging from the shelter at the top of the Ben to face the winds again
Grade III suddenly becomes IV - don't look down!
Leading up to CrowberryTower.
Part way to the top...
Walking can be tricky when the wind is 85mph on top of The Ben.
Rather impressive conditions on the way down from the Ben.
More fun climbing.
Not far now...
Spot of lunch in the shelter at the summit of the Ben.
Summitting the curved ledge. Rather good view!
Tricky conditions in Scotland!
Sunset on the Buachaille.
