Raeburn's Route In SCNL

Lena approaching Raeburn's Route (IV,4***) - we can see that there are 2 teams already on it.

The forecast was a little poor today but Lena and I wanted to finish the weekend off with a climb, so we headed back to Stob Coire nan Lochan to take a look. At the carpark, we could see headtorches just disappearing from sight up the valley - good news for us - we could follow their track in through the deep snow. We got to the Coire and could see that there were 2 teams on Raeburn's Route (IV,4***) - which was our plan too. The snow up to the route was still hard work to wade through - up to our knees and waist. We eventually got to the route, and decided to go round the corner and up NC Gully, to skip ahead of the 2 teams on the initial pitch. This did get us ahead of the crowd, but I was rewarded by a big job of working my way through the deep snow on the crux pitch which made it incredibly awkward, both to find the gear and to find rock to pull on! The turf was frozen on the upper section of the climb, but apparently not completely so, on the lower section. The snow was more consolidated than the other day - people were happily climbing NC Gully today. I felt pretty lucky to get a route done today - the weather felt against us, and the snow was deep and hard work. The leader of the next team to the top after us had come from Edinburgh for the day, and his partner and the other team were from Leeds - driving back tonight!

Lena belayed at the 'Tower'

Lena climbing through the poor visibility

Lena leading to the top

Occasionally there were stunnig views

On my way to the top

The top of Raeburn's Route on 9th Dec 2012 from Max Hunter on Vimeo.