Glencoe

Looking down into Lost Valley and Glencoe

I was out for a walk today with Lena in Glencoe. We headed up Lost Valley towards the Minor Buttress. There were a lot of people about, being a half term week. The snow was soft all the way to the summits and the black cliffs were dripping. There was hardly any wind and we didn't see any of the forecast drizzle.

Lost Valley Minor Buttress - Bidean Nam Bian/East

We were heading for Right-hand Gully (I/II), to the side of the Lost Valley Minor Buttress. There are now only bits and pieces of ice hanging onto the icy lines.

Looking East towards Stob Coire Sgreamhach, and the Buachailles beyond

We walked up to Bidean Nam Bian in near zero wind with an excellent view of Loch Etive.

Church Door Buttress is black and wet

We took a look in Central Gully to add interest to our walk to Glencoe. The Buttresses are black and almost ice free. We found one team going up Central Gully.

Diamond and Church Door Buttresses - Bidean Nam Bian/West

Stob Coire Nam Beith - showing Central Gully and Deep-Cut Chimney

We found ice attempting to hang in there on Stob Coire Nam Beith on Central Gully and Deep-Cut Chimney.

The best climbing is definitely on the Ben at the moment with people on climbs such as Cascade, Green, No3 Gully Buttress, Thompson's and Ledge today (among others). There were also careful climbing teams out there on the East Face of Aonach Mor.

Lena walking into Glencoe

Stob Coire Nam Beith, North Face

Anchor for our abseil
Phil Douthwaite on his abseil

Looking at Glencoe in the background

Day 2 of the Introduction to Snow and Ice climbing. We headed to some low level ice and a short walk in (90 mins) - Stob Coire Nam Beith, North Face. On our way in we saw the normal weekend massive crowds. Some heading to No. 6 gully (not complete or in condition), some to Central Gully (not complete), and others to Church Door Buttress. We had our ice to ourselves until PYB and Phil turned up. My 2 climbers enjoyed learning about the joys of ice at grade 3, and later abseiling off ice..