Twin Ribs

Aladdin's and Fluted Buttresses

Glenmore Lodge - Winter Mountaineering

On the second day of the course Al, George, Guy and Gavin wanted some movement coaching on grade I/II scrambling and a look at some basic ropework, so we headed off to the Twin Ribs for a short climb with a lot of variety to look at. The top Cairngorm Ski Resort Car Park was full by 9am (there were cars streaming up there at 8am). When I was walking in to the coire later at 9.30am the ski slopes were already crouded with hundreds of people. There were other hundreds moving into the northern corries. It was an incredibly busy day, but we had the Twin Ribs to ourselves all day :)

I set the team different mixed climbing problems to result in different movements. The team learnt about crampon precision discipline and axe uses. We moved onto ropework and finished with abseiling off rock and bollard anchors. An amazing day at work.

Al and Guy approaching Twin Ribs

Guy about to tackle a mixed boulder problem

Tackling a slab on crampons

Getting to grips with a little ropework

George with much improved technique and confidence

On Twin Ribs

You see this .... it's a snow bollard. I think I was talking bollards ...

George loving it

Guy

Sunset on my way home :)

Friday 5th March, Winter Skills And Coaching

The west face of Aonach Dubh avalanched last week (perhaps Monday night). The thousands of tonnes that flew down the face and the gullies are still evident. Some debris can be seen above

The debris caused a lot of damage. There are pieces of tree and a big piece of fence in the debris, which have all been ripped away from higher up

Here is a team on their way to climb Number 6 gully

Jack and I moved away to safer ground to cover bucket seats, burried axes and snow bollards

Jack wanted a day of winter skills and ice climbing coaching. So after the winter skills near Aonach Dubh we headed to the Ice Facter. We covered energy conservation and technique for ice climbing, building belays and prussiking up a rope. A useful day to end his course.