Scottish Winter Course reports 2014

A great Course report from Nick Cannon Jones on his recent Intro to Snow and Ice climbing and Winter Mountaineering courses. – Scotland currently has more snow on the hills than at any time in the last sixty years. Strong winds and mild temperatures have made decision making difficult as many of the usual venues are at risk from avalanches…

Scotland currently has more snow on the hills than at anytime in the last sixty years. Strong winds and mild temperatures have made decision making difficult as many of the usual venues are at risk from avalanches. Fitness as ever plays a big part with long walk-ins and arduous weather combining to make Scotland in winter the perfect training ground for expeditions further afield.

The Intro to Snow & Ice climbing course headed to Ben Nevis to make a traverse of the Douglas Boulder via its West and East gullies. This scenic excursion requires many of the skills required of a competent climber including safe travel techniques, gully climbing, use of two technical axes, abseiling and slick rope work.

With a poor forecast for the second day we went to the Ice Factor for an intense coaching session on movement skills and stance management.

The Winter mountaineering course began with a refresher on ice axe arrest on the side of Buchaille Etive Beag.

Tuesday was a consolidation of the basic skills along with an introduction to snow belays. To make the most of the weather and put our new found skills to use we then went for a journey up the School House Ridge on the side of the Ballachulish horseshoe. After that the group decided to give their legs a bit of a rest and used the gondola to access Aonach Mor and spent time becoming more independent in their decision making on steep ground which led to a final day on Ben Nevis putting it all together.

The group discovered a new found respect for the Scottish hills and were all inspired to do more.

Nick Cannon Jones