Climbing Practice in the Cairngorms

At last a combination of free time and some wintery conditions, without hurricane force winds, allowed Chris and I to do some overdue winter climbing. We headed up to Coire an t Snechda but as we got closer I started to feel rather anxious that the conditions were very lean. This meant the climbing would be much harder than I had intended at this point. After consulting with Chris we opted for a much easier line. This took us over initially broken ground with a combination of frozen snow, ice and turf. With the confidence now boosted, I headed up a steeper line that cut across some overhanging blocks, always seeking the easiest line. Protection was rather thin but I could feel my rusty climbing skills start to return along with my dented confidence. I was really starting to enjoy it now. The picture is from my belay just above the steepest part and shows Chris in action, ice axe placed in a secret Scottish Winter climbing material... frozen turf. It really works a treat. Above this belay Chris set off up easier but more exposed snow to eventually find belay just short of the top. I quickly followed with big handshake at the top and smiles all round. We look forward to much more of that now the old cobwebs have been blown away. Alan