 |
|
 |
|
| January - no snow but constant high pressure
over the northern Highlands (Tony and Andrew in Glen Shiel) |
|
 |
|
| early February - good mixed climbing conditions
in the Northern Corries (Paul B on Astroturfer) |
|
 |
|
| early March - a huge dump of snow makes for difficult
travel in the mountains (Cairngorm Plateau) |
|
 |
|
| mid March - perfect nevé on the summit
of the Ben |
|
|
A real
diversity of people booked days out in the 2006 winter season.
They included Graham and Lorraine, who'd never ventured into the
winter mountains
before and bravely used their new found skills on an ascent of An
Teallach. There was also the seasoned Paul and Chris, who
were
totally
up for
hiking
into the
remotest
climbing
venues that came to mind (Coire Gorm on Cul Mor in Assynt
and Castle Gully high on Shelterstone crag). No matter what people's
level of experience,
it
was great to have
so
much
enthusiastic
company
on the
hill throughout
the season - the Scottish winter mountains
never fail to bring out the best in people. Equally enjoyable, (and
trying not to sound too cheesey) was helping these people develop
and grow into competent winter climbers and mountain walkers.
Overall, conditions this season could be best described as 'unusual'.
After an initial promising dump in early December
there was a near complete lack of January snow
in most
areas with the
exception of the higher Cairngorm corries. This
was more than compensated for by
always having outrageously good weather lurking somewhere in the
northern Highlands. It seemed like day after day of high pressure giving
cold
dry conditions,
crystal clear skies and numerous impressive cloud inversions (check
out the picture top left).
Tony and Andrew needed little persuasion to swap their intended
Cairngorm
climbing course for some spectacular sunsets from the ridges of
Torridon and Glen Shiel. Jim, Sion and Tania opted for day trips to
Glen Carron and Kintail.
February started as if it were a traditional
winter (if there is such a thing) with reasonable, if lean, climbing
conditions in the Cairngorms. Just enough of a winter to let
Paul and Alan scratch and haul themselves around some classic
grade III/IV mixed routes in the Northern Corries on a week's guided
climbing. This promising start to February soon gave way to some testing
weather patterns, literally alternating on a daily basis between
good cold climbing conditions and appalling blizzards. This eratic
weather coincided with me doing two weeks of freelance instruction
at Glenmore Lodge ....and I have to say it,
the Lodge are extremely good at providing alternative programmes when
poor mountain conditions dictate a day in the valley.
Early March brought
very heavy snow
falls making the mountains look beautiful but making travelling around
very hard work. Andy, Justin and Graham resorted to snowshoes
to complete their winter skills course in the Cairngorms. Becs
and Naz had to contend with snow of Himalayan
proportion in Glen Shiel, keeping us glued to ridge lines to avoid
being avalanched. A couple of days of thaw (unfortunate for Chris and
Miichael's guided climbing
weekend !), followed by persistent cold temperatures, produced some
respectable climbing
conditions in most of the
Highlands for the
remainder of March.
The season reached
a high with
two magical visits to the north west, climbing perfect
ribbons of neve in the long easy gullies above An Teallach's
corries and an ascent of the impressively
situated PC Buttress on Liathach (a long day !). And before things
warmed up,
there was just enough time for some shockingly early starts to Creag
Meagaidh to climb the classic ice lines of
'South
Post', 'The Pumpkin' and 'Last Post'.
A season to be pragmatic.
|
|