A busy week

Ive been pretty busy the last 6 days, queens mountaineering club have been over on their annual scottish winter trip and myself and John Orr have been out working with them.We started the week of with a two day intro to winter skills, heading into buachaille etive beag on the first day, then up into corrie nan lochan for the second. The aim was to get folks who hadnt been out in winter before up to speed on the basics, so we spent alot of time looking at moving about on snow and ice, and how to stop ourselves if we do happen to have a slip or a slide.

Heading into Lochan, in the sunshine!

Team QUB enjoying the summit of Lochan.

Day 3 found me back up in corrie nan lochan with John and Chris, for their first ever winter route. We decided to head for a rather busy dorsal arete, starting of with the direct start, which was fantastic! There were lots of people out and about in the corrie with all of the popular routes getting lots of attenion.

Chris approaching the belay on the direct start to dorsal arete.

Looking back down a rather busy dorsal arete.

Day 4, I decided to head for a rather murky curved ridge with Lina and Stuart. We managed to get ahead of the crowds and out front had the route to ourselves, the guys did really well, flying up the out, a fantastic effort!

Lina just about to finish the last of the steeper pitches on curved ridge.

Lina and Stuart, still smiling at the top of curved ridge. No views today!

Day 5, The big bad ben! I headed into ben nevis with Tomas and Chris, we opted for castle ridge, this was the first time I had been on this route, so it was great to be covering new ground, fanastic views with an awesome little crux chimney high on the route with amazing exposure, all in all a great day out, although abit on the blustery side!

Chris and Tomas, high on castle ridge.

Chris and Tomas, back on flat ground, after a windy castle ridge.

Day 6, The final push! not an awful lot of people from the club were heading into the hills, after an action packed 5 days, most opted for a well earned rest, John and Mark decided to make the most of their last day in scotland, so we headed up into corrie nan lochan allowing them to savour the dreaded steps one last time! We headed over to NC gully, which we had completely to ourselves. we split the route into 4 pitches, looking at belays and stance management, Mark decided to get on the lead on the last pitch, for his first ever winter lead, a fantastic way to end a great week!

Mark and John approaching the first belay on NC gully.

Mark enjoying his first lead on the last pitch of NC gully.