Year 8 On The Ben With OB

Starting up the Ben track

This week at Outward Bound I was working with a Year 8 group from Battersea in London. There were 5 groups and yesterday we all set off on a mini expedition on Ben Nevis, with a target to get to the Summit. As it turned out, 3 groups arrived by chance on the summit at the same time for a mini celebration, before heading back down again. All the groups found different places to camp around the mountain. We were lucky with the weather and had a completely dry day yesterday, but woke up to slight rain this morning. A great end to their course.

Felix was in charge of the navigation for the 2 days

Approaching the CIC, the group get to see the scale of the North Face

At the exit of the Abseil Posts route, exiting Coire Leis - the new Cairn

At the summit, looking out towards the end of the 'Mountain Track' at another Year 8 group arriving - in total, 3 of the 5 groups got to the summit at the same time

On the way back down from the summit in high spirits, to the campsite

Route setter training in the wall on a rainy day

Bob an Marie were expanding their minds with me this afternoon. I was introducing the world of route setting on climbing walls to them.

We looked at the technical and safety considerations surrounding the work. Discussion points also included Petzl's reclassification of shunts, gri gri's etc. as well as the In-between world of route setting compared to Rope Access, work at height regulations and the climbing (instructor) way of thinking.

Ardverikie Wall

Now I must say that after each winter I forget the horrors of what can only be described as a 'Midge Feast'.  Not that I forget about the Midges; just how tremendously bad they can be.  Our perfect camping spot with a breeze on Thursday night became a haven for the Midges and beyond our powers to cope on the Friday morning!

Rather bold climbing at the top of pitch one Ardverikie Wall (HS 4b***)

With this in mind our breakfast and packing up was carried out somewhat  hastily.  Fortunately the walk into Ardverikie Wall was a lot more pleasant with not one Midge finding us for the rest of the day.

Ben mowing towards the belay at the top of pitch one.

About an hour and a half saw us at the foot of the crag and first on the route (no bikes today which would have been super quick).  The rock on this section of the crag is similar of that to Crag Dubh with many reliable solid sections and a few rather hollow flakes and features.

Climbing the 'Fantastic Flake' on pitch two.

Setting up the belay.

The climbing was enjoyable if a little bold for the most part and offered some interesting manoeuvres.  The positioning is brilliant as the route works its way fairly direct up the steep slabby wall giving some excellent chances to stop and take in the surroundings.

Looking back down the third pitch and Ben at the belay.

Ben moving through the final mini bulge before the big ledge (penultimate pitch).

Five pitches and one frog later (interesting wee story); we were yet again lunching ourselves at the top.  The direct route home was called for; taking us over the back of Binean Shauss and through the grassy slopes to the main estate path getting us back to the car in just inside an hour.

Home and family were calling so back over east we drove mopping up the dead midges from the car as we went.

A misty Tower Ridge

Ben and I drove over to the west as planned on Wednesday night and camped in Glen Coe with the intention of climbing something spicy on the Buchaille.  Unfortunately the weather dictated otherwise...

The Buchaille is there... somewhere.

The new plan for Thursday was to head to the Ben and get on Tower Ridge (Diff****).  Away we went for the relatively short drive through Fort William to the North Face car park.  A warm but grey walk in didn't dampen our spirits as coming within sight of the impressive crags in the corrie can do nothing but inspire!

Tower Ridge (right) and North East Buttress (left) shrouded by mist.

Ben following up the rocky steps.

We opted for the ascent from the left of the Douglas Boulder joining the ridge at the wee chimney.Apart from one other chap we had the ridge to ourselves; or so it seemed in the pea soup fog!  Ben was happy to second up the ridge as I put my short roping skills into practice.

Through the keyhole!

Passing Tower Gap with the Great Tower in the misty background.

Three hours after we began on the ridge we gained the summit into, well yes; more pea soup fog.  Laziness got the better of us and instead of taking a more direct descent we took the tourist path down to the halfway lochan before cutting down through the grassy slopes towards the car park.

Sitting having lunch on the summit of Ben Nevis.

A somewhat wet and dull day but a fantastic day out in the hills nonetheless.

The good and the bad (weather) on Skye

After travelling across to Skye on Thursday afternoon I met up with the 'uDare' group organised by Wayne in the pub at Slichagan.  The group of seven in total were all from either London or Kent and looking for some exposure to the Scottish mountain environment.    

Blaven.

With the weather looking like our best day would be Friday it left Saturday with low cloud and drizzly rain forecast.  We made for Blaven (Bla Bheinn) and set off form the car park at 10am.  The weather gave us a brilliant day with spectacular views only broken by some clouds by the time we reached the upper slopes.

The lower tracks leading towards the basin.

(Keen bean) Mary waiting on the others to surmount the difficulties.

Looking south.

Photo opportunity!

The gang having summited Blaven with the Cullin ridge in the background.

The descent was a little slower as the loose rock and scree patches proved difficult for those not used to such conditions.  Carefully however, we made it down and back to the car park in good time stopping every so often for a bite to eat and more importantly on a day like Friday; water!

Slow progress through the loose path and scree.

Saturday was a stereotypical Highland day with eh low cloud, waves of rain and drizzle and at times a glimmer of blue sky that never quite amounts to anything.  To give us the best views we kept to a lower height and to a stroll up the path to the Old Man of Storr and had a look at the fantastic geological formations in the area.  A quick drive up the coast and we were back out again looking at some historical and environmental aspects of the landscape including crofting, farming, clearances and much more.

Saturday's visibility at the Old Man of Storr (background).

Once everyone was suitably damp we headed for base camp and I hit the road to return back home to Aberdeen.

Bronze In The Borders

A group approaching Drumlanrig Castle

This weekend I was working for Adventure Expeditions in the Borders on a Bronze D of E exped. It meant that I left a relatively dry Fort William to a very wet southern Scotland. I took my mountain bike so I could quickly get about (but also I hoped to get in some trails during or after work, on the weekend). The Saturday took everybody to Drumlanrig Castle, and the complex woods behind. The woods contain the tracks for the groups as well as lots of waymarked walking trails, and mountain bike trails - green through to black.

Drumlanrig Castle, with Drumlanrig Woods behind

A couple of groups approaching the Castle on Saturday

The mountain bike tracks in the Drumlanrig Woods got my attention

I did most of the walking trails during work on the Saturday, and did the blue and red bike trails on the Sunday after work - great fun - and lots of navigating in thick woods!

The Woods were more beautiful than I was expecting

Cat's new shelter turned out to be a hit - here are a couple of teachers having a snooze in midge nets

Cat had bought Adventure Expeditions a new shelter, which turned out to be a big hit in the rain of Saturday night. The teaching staff used it the most, to keep them comfortable as they snoozed.

The top of the steep track on Sunday

So as it turned out the bike was a winner for the weekend. I managed to find all the groups fast on both days, and did lots of bike trails - racking up 70km over the weekend. Now I'm thinking about upgrading my bike so I can comfortably get down the Nevis Red from the Gondola at Nevis range.

The Mamores

We were blessed with another day of warm and relatively clear weather today with the clouds that were about staying well above the summits.
Our route took us form Kinlochleven, through the forest and up the pleasant path to Sgur Eilde Beag.

You can't beat hard boiled eggs (apparently)...

Looking back towards Sgurr Eilde Mor and the lochan that resides between it and it's little brother.

We stopped to have lunch out of the wind at the 1062 spot height.

Craig and I couldn't resist bagging Binnein Mor which to be honest is hardly out of the way and definitely worth the quick walk.

On the summit of Binnein Mor looking towards Ben Nevis.

Looking towards Kinlochleven, the Anoach Eagach and the Three Sisters.

After lunch we continued along the ridge westwards to the col at 728 metres and descended down into the valley meeting up with the land rover tracks further down. This was certainly a nicer route down than most being pleasant under foot as well as offering a nice setting.

All in all a great couple of days with magnificent views and weather. We're heading back to Aberdeen on Friday for those that are unlucky enough to be going back to work. I, on the other hand have a couple more days to try and make the most of; so lets hope the weather holds!

All go in Glen Coe

Today I've been braving the heat and sun with two work colleagues; Craig and Victoria. We had hoped to get up to Torridon but due to unfortunate circumstances we were resticted to being based in Fort William.
Making the most of the weather we headed down to Glen Coe in the afternoon and ascended up onto the Three Sisters via Coire nan Lochan following the popular path to the summit of Stob Coire nan Lochan.

After a spot of lunch we continued on to Bidean am Bian and Stob Coire Sgreamhach to give us the two Munro's of the day. Albeit a hard slog in the heat the views and location more that made up for it as the clouds remained broken all through the day; giving us what could only be described in Victoria's words as "amazing!".

On the Summit of Bidean am Bian.

Looking South down Glen Etive.

The irresistible pose on the house sized boulders found on the descent through Allt Coire Gabhail.

Two of the Three sisters.

Home we went after approximately five and a half hours making an all important 'refreshment' stop at the Clachaig for a pint of the foaming Ale.

More adventures in store tomorrow as we intend to head for the Mamores.