There are a few indicators for us that the summer might be heading towards Autumn, the annual Ben Nevis race, leaves turning colour and also the last of our Austrian Alpine Club skills courses for the year. Its been a busy summer since our last post with skills courses and guided days in the mountains and at the crag.
We have just finished off the last AACUK course in Glen Nevis with a keen team on a rock course looking at the skills and tactics needed for traditional climbing. In contrast to the majority of the summer this was done on day one in sweltering heat but with a forecast suggesting that 72 hours later we should expect to see snow on the summits. Often at this end of the year things can swing from storm to sun in quick succesion suggesting that the meteorological autumn is underway. We have enjoyed some fine sunny days on Skye with some private guiding on the Inaccessible Pinnacle and other summits Skye has proved testing this summer with often poor weather but for us being nearby we have been able to jump on the best of the weather.
Meagan who joined us for a weekend on Skye somehow picked I think the best weekend of the summer with sunshine pretty much for the whole of the weekend. Jo and Meagan tackled the Inn Pinn on the Saturday and then around the Southern end and the tops above Coire Ghrunda. I tagged along that day to get a few snaps and enjoy a sunny day on Skye. The ‘Inn Pinn’ has proved popular with another private day with Rebecca who was visiting from Australia and wanted to experience the ridge. However the Southern end of the ridge may not be possible to visit soon for an unknown period. The Highland Council are looking to repair the road to Glenbrittle which has been destroyed by the popularity of the Fairy Pools. I think though it would be unfair to purely put this down to the 200’000 visitors to this attraction a year. The actual attraction of the 'remote and wild rock pools' has in itself actually gone as there is a large purpose made footpath along the river, car parks and signage everywhere. There are nicer ones I know of although perhaps I should not post their location or any images! A perfect storm of badly maintained roads the Fairy Pools and a visible switch at the campsite from tents to motorhomes has destroyed the road as it simply cant cope. Fingers crossed the council can make a more practical road but also perhaps not remove to much of the attraction for many to Glenbrittle which is that its a remote and wild area.
Our final AACUK course took place in Glen Nevis with a strong team looking to further their trad climbing skills. We spent the first day looking at a variety of things on Reptons, Pinnacle and up the Alp area in some scorching weather. The second day we headed to Tricouni area which seems to be off the beaten path these days. I remember their being all sorts of tracks and paths leading round to the large number of crags but the paths seem to stop at the Alp area and just beyond Dundee Buttress. Its well worth exploring some the other crags around the Glen as there are some real gems hiding. Tricouni slab being one them a nice well protected V Diff with a good VS variation part way up. Its also a pretty good teaching spot to. That makes three good courses this year with a intro rock in the Aviemore area and our popular Skye scrambles course. I have put the dates for 2025 on the website. Get in touch if you would like to join us next year.
Louis and Fran joined us for a day on Liathach a few days ago just getting an atmospheric traverse in before the tops took a turn for the cooler and snow showers arrived. They headed West to East for their traverse so they could take in the excellent South Ridge a great way to turn much of the walk in to high quality scrambling instead. Both of them had just recently been in the British bouldering championships so the technical moves where perhaps not an issue for super strong arms but they are both keen to get their mountaineering skills to catch up with the finger strength!
I have just come back from an exceptionally wet couple of days on Skye with Joe who joined us for some climbing earlier in the summer and was keen to visit the ridge. We managed to get out although it has to be said many targets where off the cards with torrential rain. We did however make it to the Spar Cave which many use as a wet weather alternative when the ridge and mountains are awash. Right down on the coast near Elgol tucked in the back of a very narrow and deep geo is a cave dripping with white deposits. Headtorches required along with getting the tide times correct in order to scramble around the coast to get into it. I had not visited it before but glad to have seen it. It also offers up some good abseils from the cliffs above and would make a good wet weather day out.
Its been busy with days out and about but there is a bit of a change of season blowing in the air. I took a walk into the Northern Corries a couple of days ago to see in the first snows. A dusting but non the less snow and hopefully a sign of a good winter coming. We have put together a free article focussed on the things to think about for those making the change from hillwalking to winter mountaineering. Our winter skills courses and programme is now all live with dates and we have given the website a seasonal change with a few more wintry shots now visible. Get in touch if you would like to join us for a course this winter. Places are already starting to fill up.
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