"X" marks the spot!

"Red triangle marks the checkpoint!" doesn't quite have the same ring to it does it?

It's been a busy old time up here recently - between hostel renovations, gardening duties, Jenny running away with the van for the weekend (twice!) and wedding planning we've not had time for anything apart from walking the dog recently. Today we decided to spice up his normal walk and head over to one of the local forests where they have a permanent orienteering course set up.

As I have nothing better to do on a Friday evening - I made you a nice video...

--Matt

Two's company, Ski's a crowd

Crowds were anything but a problem over at the Nevis Range yesterday morning. Jen got some skis for christmas and has been desperate to test them out ever since, I finally gave in...

Jen having a pose at the top

I considered trying to jump this fence but changed my mind at the last minute

Enjoying the solitude on an easy blue

--Matt

Right twin, Aonoch Mor east face

Iain Gallagher is still with us so we headed out again, Jenny couldn't face another day on the hill after yesterday so it was just Iain and myself today.

The forecast was poor again, we headed up Aonoch Mor but thought we'd just end up having a look and calling the whole thing off. Somebody was smiling on us though, just as we reached the top station the clouds disappeared to reveal glorious blue skies.


We geared up, headed over to easy gully, abbed down and then began a hard walk along the bottom of the crag through some pretty deep (and steep) snow until we got round to the Twins area. Iain gave me a choice of routes so I picked an easy one with stars, didn't fancy anything too hard after yesterday.

The route was absolutely plastered in ice and had a couple of steep sections. I really enjoyed the climbing but wouldn't have fancied being on the sharp end, Iain reckoned it was definitely harder than grade 2 in those conditions which made me feel a bit better.

I was shattered by the time I reached the top, but the views made up for it, the walk down was much more leisurely than yesterdays, the skiing looked good, lots of people about as we picked our way down the pistes.

--Matt

West face of Aonach Mor

Our mountaineering instructor is still with us so we headed back up Aonach Mor. The forecast was pretty poor so we tried to make the most of it and headed round to the west face hoping to find some shelter - the west face has longer routes than the east and feels a bit wilder.

After a longish walk in and a bit of route finding trouble we eventually started up Western rib, a 500 metre grade 2/3. After a couple of pitches we realised we'd be tight for time (and getting cold!) and might have problems making it back for the last gondela so dropped down in to an ajoining gully and raced to the top, topping out in whiteout/blizzard conditions. A swift bit of navigation by our instructor and a rapid march (no stopping for tea!) we got down to the gondela station with minutes to spare.

I didn't take any photos, it was too cold to take my gloves of and you wouldn't have been able to see anything in them anyway!

--Matt

Invergarry Lodge Brush Up on Winter Skills

Last month we were lucky enough to find a trainee Mountain Instructor who was looking for people wanting some tuition in winter skills and ice climbing - he wanted practice before his assessment in March, and we definitely wanted some tuition!

We decided to cover some basic skills over the first day and then to progress on to some routes over the following two days. So today we've been out on Aonach Mor (yes we took the Gondola up so that was the easy part!) and have learnt ice-axe arrests in every conceivable position, lots of different techniques for walking on ice and snow, basic crampon use and several different snow and ice belays. It's been a really great day, there were a few weird experiences including being pushed down the hill whilst lying on my back head-first down the hillside but it was all good fun and we are definitely much wiser and more confident for the experience.



Tomorrow we can't wait to put our newly-learnt skills to the test on a route - watch this space for an update tomorrow!

Jen x

Walk the line

We've spent the day learning how to slackline and have made you a nice video...

--Matt