A little more winter

This winter I’ve spent quite a bit of time going backwards and forwards across the Irish sea, I feel like I must be turning into a familiar face on the ferry! On Saturday, after a couple of weeks at home doing a mixture of some climbing, paddling and rope access work, I was back on-board with Stenaline and heading for the highlands once again!

Winter sun in Dalkey on an Spa for mountain training Ireland

This week I have been based mostly in the east, attending the AMI Ireland winter meet, however Monday and Tuesday were spent on the west coast where I was lucky enough to work with Pete, Paddy and Daz from summit for hero’s through adventure peaks. The guys are starting on a two year training program with the goal of climbing Everest in 2016. Their experience in winter was varied but all were super keen to get out and see how their prosthetic’s preformed in the challenging Scottish winter conditions. We spent a day on Aonach Mor focusing on winter skills followed by a day of journeying and digging emergency shelters on Buachaille Etive Beag. It was a great effort from the guys, and hopefully a good start to their winter training.

Enjoying the last of the weeks good weather on the Buachaille Etive Beag

After driving back east on Tuesday night, the rest of my week was spent in the Cairngorms with the other AMI members on the meet. I found it to be a really useful week, and I know that I learned a lot from being out with some very experienced mountaineering instructors.
The week consisted of a few workshop style days, looking at short-roping and avalanche awareness, with a bit of climbing thrown in for good measure. On Wednesday I climbed the Lamp with John, which was in great condition. With huge amounts of snow banking out the start it felt a bit soft for the grade, but was still an enjoyable route and it was great to get climbing with John who I’d never climbed with before.

John starting up the last of the difficulties on the route.

Just as most of the other guys are heading home the weather has took a turn for the worst, and with snow and high winds forecast over the next few days it looks like i’ll be having a coffee shop tour this weekend! Fingers crossed for the high pressure forecast next week.