Grey Corries

UHI WHC ATM 1 Group D at the entrance to The Lairig in Lochaber. James, Rich, Mark, Ruairdh, Will, Kirsty and Alasdair

On Wednesday I set out with Group D on expedition, from UHI WHC on the ATM degree course. At the beginning of Wednesday the weather was dry, but we soon walked up into the cloud, where we started to get wet, and the rain shortly started to add to the moderate wind, so at last we had some interesting conditions to test their navigation. We walked up onto the Grey Corries and over Stob Choire Claurigh (1177m).

We quickly gained height and got into the cloud

The group had some interesting nav to do

Working out how to get to the lochan for a possible wild camp

Between the rocks we found a wild camp at 960m

We woke to better visibility and reduced winds. Stob Ban (977m) here in the distance

Wednesday was mostly wet, so we were grateful to wake up to dryer conditions and reduced wind. We continued on the ridge, over Stob Coire an Laoigh (1116m), then north and down back to the van. This was the first expedition for the Year 1 students on the ATM degree course - a great start to the year.

Good visibility on day 2 to appreciate the Grey Corries

Aonach Eagach In The Mist

Andrew and Anna Martindale enjoying the ridge

Working for - Abacus Mountaineering, Coaching and Guiding

When I met Andrew and Anna this morning in the rain, in Glencoe, they told me about their last 3 days in great sunny weather climbing munros - today the weather had changed - rain, cloud, no sun! They were up for the adventure of the Aoanch Eagach ridge, taking in the munros along the way so we set off, into more rain. Eventually I had to give up and put my waterproofs on - oh well, I hadn't worn them for a while. We'd started early, so initially we had the ridge to ourselves, but half way through we saw what I took to be a coach load of people on the top of Am Bodach. Eventually, most of them turned back the way they had come. I think in the end there were about 2 teams after us. We didn't get the sun, but we did get atmosphere, by the bucket. The ridge has inspired Andrew and Anna to take on more scrambling adventures. Next year I think they'll head to Skye for the munros and the ridge.

At last a little of the ridge reveals itself

As the morning goes on the rain stops and some visibility comes and goes

After the rain the rock starts to dry a little

Andrew and Anna opt for all the little scrambling bits and pieces - Anna gets pretty slick at downclimbing