Avalanche risk: Considerable (Cat. 3)
Had a cracking day today.
We got up to the Cairngorm car park by about 0900 to avoid the congestion usually seen on Sunday mornings. It was a miserable day with low cloud and the occasional spot of drizzle turning to snow further up. We took the path for Coire an Lochan, turning south to head into Coire an t-Sneachda. There were a few people in the bowl kitting up, but because of the weather, we couldn’t see the entrance to our gulley, so we headed up the steep snow trying to find the start of our climb.
We finally got in view and worked out that we were at the foot of Aladdins Couloir, so we headed 200m east to our gulley – Jacob’s Ladder.
We climbed the gulley in 3 pitches with the more experienced winter climbers Trig and Neil showing me the way. Pictures are, as always on my flickr site.
Once we’d exited the gulley, we stopped to gather ourselves and grab a bite to eat before heading off the mountain – it was alrready 1515. We headed off down Fiacaill a Choire Chais, before crossing the ski runs back to the car park.
All in all a most enjoyable day learning new techniques in the snow.
Can’t wait for tomorrow!
Ba***Ard