Aladdin's Mirror Direct

Having been very busy at Transition lately including Boulder competitions and the like I've only managed out to the hills a couple of times in the last few weeks.  To add to this; not having a great camera at the moment i find myself reluctant to post reports with either no photo or what tends to turn out as low quality photo's from my phone camera (regardless of how good they claim to be).

Sam and I made the most of a day to ourselves and headed off to the Northern Corries for a day out on Sunday.  The weather looked good with very light winds and a reasonable cloud level.  Fortunately MWIS were right (as the are most of the time) and with the recent thaw passed the temperatures have dropped again.  The snowpack is nice and firm giving excellent climbing conditions with plenty of ice where you want it but not much in the cracks so gear is good.

Fed and watered after the walk in!

Aladdin's Mirror Direct (IV) was the plan as it has a nice ice pitch that setting up a bottom rope for Sam to have a play was easy enough.  After a while spent looking at technique and getting the muscles working hard on the steeper sections we grabbed the bags and continued up the rest of the route.  Given that the conditions were so good and a lack of wind we moved together for the most part and made things a little more exciting to finish off the route by taking on the steepest exit from the route.

Sam getting ready for action.

Sam having a play on Aladdin's Mirror Direct (IV)

There's always time to pose for the camera.

The ice was variable but for the most part either thick and chewy or just the right consistency for the axes.  Having said that the ominous dripping around us held true to the inversion that was forecast giving higher temperatures in the corrie than down at loch Morlich.  I reckon after a day or so the ice will really start to form nice and fat again!

The final moves of the ice pitch.

On the upper slopes.

A brief stop and bite to eat on the plateau and we headed round the corrie rim to 1141 and through the Ciste bowl amidst the skiers and boarders.

Finished!

A brilliant day in brilliant conditions made all the easer by the pleasant walking conditions!  Well done Sam for fighting those hot aches on the vertical ice!