Category Archives: Winter Conditions

What a Difference a Day Makes

Whilst the Northern Corries have remained busy over the last few days with ascents of the early season classics such as Pygmy Ridge, Fingers Ridge and Fallout Corner, activity has now started on Ben Nevis. On October 31, Kenny Grant … Continue reading

Posted in New Routes, Winter Conditions | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on What a Difference a Day Makes

Winter Begins

Winter has come early to the Scottish Highlands with a sharp cold snap and snow to low levels. Only a dusting of snow fell in the West, but the Cairngorms took the full blast of the northerly winds and the … Continue reading

Posted in New Routes, Winter Conditions | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Winter Begins

Winter Season Finally Ends

With warmer temperatures now sweeping across the country, it looks like the 2011-2012 winter climbing season is finally coming to an end. The last six weeks have been unusually cold for the time of year, which has led to resumption … Continue reading

Posted in Repeats, Winter Conditions | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Winter Season Finally Ends

Winter – Not Quite Over Yet!

Winter has returned with a vengeance to the Scottish hills and there have been a variety of routes climbed in the Cairngorns and on Ben Nevis. In the Northern Corries, Fallout Corner, The Message, Fingers Ridge and Sidewinder have all … Continue reading

Posted in Repeats, Winter Conditions | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Winter – Not Quite Over Yet!

A Ghost of a Chance

On Wednesday April 4, Craig Lamb and Joel Paterson took advantage of the recent icy blast with a well-timed visit to the Southern Sector on Lochnagar. After the recent warm temperatures (the week before folk were rock climbing on Dubh … Continue reading

Posted in Winter Conditions | Tagged , , | Comments Off on A Ghost of a Chance

Full Winter Season Finally Begins!

The unseasonably warm November temperatures came to an abrupt end on Friday November 25 with snow down to low levels across the Highlands accompanied by biting north-westerly gales. Dorsal Arête (II) on Stob Coire nan Lochan in Glen Coe saw … Continue reading

Posted in Winter Conditions | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Full Winter Season Finally Begins!

Rarely in Condition Winter Classics

There is an interesting thread running on UKC at the moment compiling a list of rarely in condition Scottish winter classics. The concept is a paradox of course – a route cannot really be deemed a classic until it has … Continue reading

Posted in Commentary, Winter Conditions | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Revisiting the Third Man

Andy Nisbet and Helen Rennard notched up their first winter ascents of the season with an ascent of The Third Man (IV,6) on the Northern Corries, on Thursday October 20. This was the first time that Andy had climbed the … Continue reading

Posted in Commentary, Winter Conditions | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Revisiting the Third Man

New Winter Season Underway!

The wind swung around to the North on Monday and winter began on the Scottish hills with the first significant snowfalls of the season. On Tuesday October 18, Ledge Route (II) on Ben Nevis was climbed and Alan Halewood made … Continue reading

Posted in Winter Conditions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

All Go on Cairngorm

It’s been a busy few days on Cairngorm with many teams focusing on the Northern Corries. The exposed turf is well frozen, and the steeper mixed routes are in good early season condition. Snow fell almost continuously through the weekend … Continue reading

Posted in New Routes, Winter Conditions | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on All Go on Cairngorm