The route to Salvation

Sam and I took an opportunity to get out to the hills for a short day yesterday and headed into Sneachda.  Originally the plan was to head into Hells Lum in the Loch Avon basin but we were keen to rescue the babysitters promptly.

In we walked taking moments along the way to polish my flora and fauna knowledge by inundating Sam with various names and facts.

Sam finishing the second pitch up the rock rib.

Magic Crack (HVS ***) was our aim but with numerous teams on it and queuing we opted for a once starred VS; Salvation to its right.

Approaching the crux moves on Salvation (VS 4c*) Coire an t' Sneachda.

Moving up the final main slab after the crux (left).

The roude follows a nice mixture of steep slab and wall sections with the crux being a move through a bulging overlap on good holds.

Sam topping out with the Fiacaill Ridge and Buttress in the background.

Four pitches of pleasant climbing later came the abseil back down.  There's scrambling terrain above the climbs here but more often than not this will involve wet turf sections.  The weather held for us with only a few very light showers that dried off the superb granite quickly with the help of the blustery wind.

The only way is down!

Well done Sam for making the crux moves look so easy!