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Latest mountain conditions
These are posted as and when I have the time
or information. Climbers are welcome to let me know what they
find anywhere in Scotland, and I will try and post this information
also. Links to other relevant sites are at the top and foot
of this page. Important links as follows:
Wet Wednesday
Wednesday, 28 February 2007
Things are on the mend. Even the street signs are looking good for climbers. Might be worth starting very early in the morning, or going east. I hear that Glenmore Lodge and the International Meet are heading west en masse. Maybe a barrier at Laggan and the foot of Observatory Gully might work! A few well placed land mines on the A86 just west of Creag Meagaidh would certainly allow Ben Nevis to be quiet for the rest of us.
posted by Westcoast Mountainguides @ 20:47
Wet windy and dull today
Tuesday, 27 February 2007
Green Gully and Garadh Gully all climbed today by a few hardy souls. Raining on the plateau. What a difference a day makes.
posted by Westcoast Mountainguides @ 22:54
Perfect on the 'Point' - Great on Gardyloo
Monday, 26 February 2007
 Thanks to Walter Black for these lovely pictures of Gardyloo Gully. A fine day out with Charles Speyer and the guide Owain Jones, topping out on a fine sunny day.  Summit of Ben Nevis on 26th February.  Summit view across Tower Ridge, Loch Eil and Rum just visible in the distance.  Entering the narrows of Gardyloo Gully with two teams at the base of Shot in the Dark and or Satanic Verses
 Easy summit finish on the right of Point Five Gully, aiming for the crest of Observatory Buttress.
 Above the hard pitches the angle eases with a few grade II/III pitches. We headed up left to avoid the crowds, finishing well left of the main cornice. Sixty metre ropes are a bonus and we did three pitches up to grade III.IV  The Rogue Pitch, which is the third and last hard pitch on Point Five Gully.
 The Chimney Pitch (2nd) is often the crux in my opinion, especially when it has big holes in it. At the moment it does have one damp section with a touch of 'mush' and is not too fat. Yesterday we managed some protection on the right wall just above the stance with small to medium wires. A lot of fixed pro is in-situ higher up this pitch. This pitch is best climbed with one run-out to good anchors on the right wall. Fifty metre ropes are adequate, but 55m or 60m lengths do help.  Which rope are we tied on to?
  I joined the International Lemmings who flocked to the best western ice climbing venue yesterday. I didn't hear a word of English spoken all day. I think there may have been a 'Geordie' or two up ahead in the scrum of Point Five Gully. Turning the corner into Observatory Gully it became clear that my leisurely approach and late departure at 0730 would consign us to being bombed all day from the pilgrims above. The majority of folk seemed intent on queuing higher up the gully on Smiths Route and Psychedelic Wall and Indicator Wall and Albatross. In the end the numbers in Point Five Gully only just reached double figures. One happy chappy decided to belay in the middle of the (2nd)chimney pitch, which did cause some minor congestion. The Spaniards with whom we shared a number of stances were very impressed with the quality of the ice...."is it always like this"?.......they asked....."Oh yes, but often much better"....So I have done my bit for Scottish climbing tourism. The trouble is, that if they go up again this week it will become obvious that conditions can be somewhat fickle. The quality of the ice according to our Spanish cousins was like butter or cheese. Obviously a little softer than their usual Pyrenees brittle stuff. Today we are getting snowy, stormy weather and the same tomorrow. This will put a shine back on the cliffs, which have darkened over the last week or so. The climbing is still good above 900 metres.  Cascade area  Number Two Gully Buttress David HaygarthTook these two pictures on his day out in Coire na Ciste. Teams were active all over the crags, including Tower Face of Comb and Babylon.
If anyone using the driving track from Nevis Range finds themselves with a set of keys they do not recognise, please contact Glenmore Lodge on 01479 861256.
I have an ice axe handed in to me by Remi, the French guide who was staying at the hut last week. He found it on Tower Ridge. Anyone who wishes to describe the axe accurately will be reunited with with their tool in return for postage. Thanks Remi.
Hi Alan, Think we spoke at the top of the route but as it was getting dark we were concentrating in getting packed so apologies if we appeared a bit abrupt! Like you we had a leisurely approach from the North Face carpark (full) and arrived at that Dam carpark through the mud (the path has actually got worse since last week!) to see the crocodile from the International meet just ahead (horror!). You see the plan was according to my sources was to arrive late as the Lodge mini buses (BMC Meet) would arrive around 6:00 am at the Dam. They'd all scoot off up the routes to be back for tea and cake at 4:00pm just as we arrived at the foot of the route I'd spotted last week. Didn't work out though as they all arrive late and left even later... Anyway Two Step corner as one of my several guide books (various vintages) says is steeper than it looks and can have a difficult cornice finish... is as stated! We almost went up Quick Step to avoid queuing but with a blank thin section and an even bigger cornice that would have been daft? I've sent you several photos but if you have to select one please choose the one of Fi as I did insist she should lead through to save time and the cornice wasn't as bad as it looked.... it was and I was thankful I hadn't got that pitch! Other than the queues the climb and conditions on the Ben were superb. Early start and drive from Aviemore for two days on the Ben within a week must say something about the ice conditions... Kind regards Ron Walker Thanks Ron. Very chivalrous of you letting the lady lead the cornice:-)) The walk down in the dark was fine, but by the time we reached the Red Burn a group of French climbers had tagged along for the route finding across the last bit of bog. I have it from a very reliable source that the lower muddy track will be sorted by the summer 2007. 
posted by Westcoast Mountainguides @ 12:09
"Fluich" in the Fort
Sunday, 25 February 2007
Pretty "Dreich" just now, but a cold snap is forecast for tomorrow. Looking ahead I still have space on the CIC Hut courses which run 4th to 9th March and 18th to 23rd March. These can be self-led, where pairs use my space in the hut and get advice, if they need it from the 'instructor in residence' or the full course with instruction included. Call or email for details. Certainly it looks as though the only place for good ice at the moment is on Ben Nevis and if that continues a place up at the hut would be a wise move.
The week ahead shows unsettled weather, but some charts are suggesting wintry stormy conditions on the tops, so that will be a bonus and keep the big capital hill topped up.
I have an ice axe handed in to me by Remi, the French guide who was staying at the hut last week. He found it on Tower Ridge. Anyone who wishes to describe the axe accurately will be reunited with with their tool in return for postage. Thanks Remi.
Hi Alan
An update for your conditions page.
Saturday 24th Feb
Even though it may have seemed a warm soggy day high on the Ben the conditions are still holding remarkably well with 'toffee ice' to die for!
Nigel and I got up early to beat the crowds and the 'international meet' and did Albatross. A superb route in great condition which we had all to ourselves! We were back home by 15:00 to watch the rugby - should have stayed up for another route!!
Very few parties in Observatory Gully to our surprise - we saw a team heading for Point 5 which looked quite fat through the mist, two teams on Indicator Wall and folk in Gardyloo Gully and Tower Gully. Psychedelic Wall looked doable and Smiths also looked in excellent condition .
Tony
posted by Westcoast Mountainguides @ 10:18
Tropical on Tower Ridge
Saturday, 24 February 2007
A good day out in the murk on Tower Ridge. No wind and plenty of snow above about 1000 metres. Freezing level above the summits today. Plenty of voices drifting about the corries today, so no doubt people were enjoying the soft ice, of which there is plenty. A touch of frost will lock things up again. A team cruising up Glover's Chimney said the conditions were okay and it looked that way from above. Certainly the chimney into Tower Gap is well iced. Another couple we spoke to had climbed Gardyloo Gully and reported it to be "okay with no trouble at the cornice". I have an ice axe handed in to me by Remi, the French guide who was staying at the hut last week. He found it on Tower Ridge. Anyone who wishes to describe the axe accurately will be reunited with with their tool in return for postage. Thanks Remi.
posted by Westcoast Mountainguides @ 20:52
Gloopy and Grey on Garadh Gully
Friday, 23 February 2007
Thanks to Nigel Hooker (Aspire Mountaineering) for the photo of Tony on Central Gully R-Hand, Creag Coire na Ciste on Wednesday
Hello,
I'm going to be in town from March 6-14th solo and was wondering if I could convince you, or a capable climber you know, to climb with me. I'm an ice climber/University student from the States and lead/solo IV 3-5, capable of following harder routes.I'm flat broke, but I'm willing to belay for anyone who can show me around or even willing to work it off while I'm in town.
Please pass this along or email me back if you could find even a half-day to show me around.
Cheers,
Brian Aitken
baitken@eden.rutgers.edu
Yesterday I did Garadh Gully, which is complete with plenty of good ice and a rather large Bergschrund for the unwary lurking beneath the first pitch. It has been the scene of some interesting crevasse rescues recently! Conditions are good but damp high on Ben Nevis and the weather is mild. The ice is hanging in very well and there is plenty to go for above about 1000 metres.
Hi Alan,
Since you've so kindly included some photos of the Cairngorms we thought we'd send you a few photos taken on Ben Nevis 21st Feb for your conditions report.
Anyway the promise of blue skies and lowering temperatures had us driving over from Aviemore to Ben Nevis at 4:00 am on Thursday!
On the walk up through the mud (BTW the path has deteriorated badly since our last visit in 2006) from the North Face carpark it started to drizzle and by the time we had passed the CIC hut it was snowing. The lower half of Observatory gully was thin but frozen solid. Zero gully, Orion and Hadrian's were all non existent however Point Five was there and looked almost banked out and fat at the chimney pitch. Tower Scoop was ok though Tower Ridge it's self was bare on it's lower half. We couldn't see Smith's or Gardyloo but from the voices it appeared to be busy on the upper gully with English, French, Spanish, Italians and Eastern European voices bellowing out from the gloom! Loads of folk on Good Friday but after the first pair of polite young lads on Indicator Wall moved off and decided to do Good Friday we had the climb to ourselves....!! We had a great day on Fi's variation of Indicator Wall (left-hand to right-hand variation after she asked for directions and I told her to follow the good thick ice. It was good thick ice but it was also the steepest....!) Anyway great climbing on more or less bomber 1st time placements and ice screw protection wherever you wanted it. The blue skies and sunshine did in fact arrive at the summit cornice. On descent we took a few photos of Coire na Ciste which had good hard snow down to the little lochan. Green Gully and Two-Step corner looked good too.
A great day on the Ben.....
Kind regards
Ron Walker and Fi Chappell
Thanks to Talisman
The comment above concerning the poor state of the lower path is a constant one. Fortunately, I have been reliably (?) informed by the new (?) landowners, Forestry Commission Scotland, that a new path will be built this year and certainly in time for next winter. On a similar note, I would gladly support upgrading the forestry track which some of us can drive up in order for it to be made a public climbers track (Toll). A big car park at the end would overcome the crowding which can occur at this time of the year. A well landscaped climbers lodge would also be a wise and needed addition at this location in my view.
Hi Alan,
I trust this finds you well. Thought I'd send you a report from the Ben today. A very early approach in what felt like incredibly mild weather saw me heading up Observatory Gully for a fairly leisurely 42 minute ropeless solo of Psychedelic Wall. Due to near-zero visibility, I couldn't see past the first pitch from below which made starting up pretty committing, although the lower slabs were well-coated with ice. As it turned out, the route was in good condition overall and extremely enjoyable with continual interest throughout. A chink of blue sky on the top convinced me to go down to the Little Brenva Face but the visibility deteriorated rapidly and made route-finding impossible. So I moved back round to Observatory Gully for another slog up to Gardyloo Buttress where I soloed Right Edge. Again this was in fine condition with no cornice worries. Dropping down into Coire na Ciste, I found the route I had in mind to be discontinuous, so I headed back to Coire Leis as the clouds had lifted temporarily, and I was able to locate the line of Cresta Direct. A lovely ice pitch to start and the rest of the route simply unfolded as height was gained. A 14 hour day from car to car with 9000 feet of ascent - sometimes you've got to work hard for your climbing!
Hope your slideshow at the Lime Tree was a success, I would have been there but had to dash back to drop off the hire car!
All the best, Patrick Roman
posted by Westcoast Mountainguides @ 09:29
Dull Day out West
Monday, 19 February 2007
posted by Westcoast Mountainguides @ 18:19
Warmer and Cloudy but Cooler this weekend hopefully
Friday, 16 February 2007
Hi Alan,
Not a mountain report I'm afraid just a grateful word from a Scottish winter enthusiast suffering from withdrawal symptoms in Baghdad.Coming to the end of a long 7 months in this s...t hole and the only thing that has kept me sane is logging on to your blog as often as I can to catch up with what you lucky b*****ds have been doing on the hill this season.Not back until late March by which time no doubt all the white stuff will be gone!
Maybe next year.......
'Envious' of Baghdad
Thanks for that. I'm sure we all wish you did not have to be in Iraq doing what you are doing. My own opinion is that the west has for too long, tried to 'kick' too many nations globally into our way of doing things, that we are now reaping the rewards! That's not to say we should ignore human rights, far from it. Just that we should also respect other religions and attitudes and cultures. We must try and live together in harmony, but history shows that our leaders and politicians are not capable of achieving this. During the last few centuries, reactions from global 'colonialism' have expanded from defending cultures with blow-pipes to high-jacking and using aircraft as bombs. Nothing has changed apart from the weapons and technology used to react against unwanted intrusions into other nations way of life. Naive, me, no chance!
Hello Alan,
Just a quick note to say that went up toward Stob Ghabhar today (16th) with the aim of a gully climb. No luck, what snow remains is wet slush and thawing from the ground/rock outwards.
If we get a freeze back in time, there may be some worthy gullies in the area of Coire an Lochan but way too warm just now. No pictures as it really wasn't worth taking any in the mist and rain.
Regards
N Bryan
posted by Westcoast Mountainguides @ 09:52
Happy Valentine - Red Letter Day out West
Wednesday, 14 February 2007
posted by Westcoast Mountainguides @ 21:19
Another Capital Day!!
Monday, 12 February 2007
posted by Westcoast Mountainguides @ 20:19
Less Windy still snowing
Sunday, 11 February 2007
A better day today, but pretty murky on the tops. Still cold, but it looks like some poor weather by Wednesday or Thursday. Thanks to Mark Frow for the picture of Bowfell yesterday.
posted by Westcoast Mountainguides @ 22:28
Wild Windy and Winter
Saturday, 10 February 2007
Hi Alan
The attached picture was taken on Wednesday afternoon form the top of Binnein Mor, using an Olympus u1000.To be in the mountains of Scotland in such perfect conditions is no act of chance. Watch the weather forecast do not dither, and go for it. I set out at 4:00 from Preston And was on top of Sgorr Dhearg at 13:00pm. Thanks for the brew. TOM.
Left Twin, showing Jamie from the Ice Factor cruising outside for a change!
Thanks to Tom for the picture of Helvellyn yesterday. This guy gets around!
Very windy today on the hills. So much so that people were being blown over and not making very good progress. A fairly large group appeared to be drawn to Garadh Gully on Ben Nevis, which must have created a few queues, ice bombs and curses! One team managed Moonlight Gully and another bailed from the fin on Dorsal Arete, into Broad Gully in the face of very strong winds.
Some reports coming in show that the very strong winds are stripping off the new snow from the high cliffs. This is both west and east Scotland. The ice is still building in the west. Another report from Beinn Udlaidh said that it was not too good, although the report came from people who did not see the higher cliffs. Any more news from Glen Orchy would be appreciated.
The forecast for the week ahead
suggests milder weather towards the end of the week. Before then we may get some westerly and north-westerlies. This will bring more snow to the western hill with any luck. Over the last week we have had some very dry, cold weather around Fort William, whilst the rest of Britain has suffered under some heavy snow. This was all due to the easterly airflow. We never get anything but sunshine and dry weather off of easterly winds!
Check out the Mountain Festival programme for 21st February. From 16th February to 3rd March Amongst all the other really excellent days and evenings I will be putting together an evening on 21st February to include some detail on Nanda Devi.
By the way your ecofascist-correspondent needs to consider. People who smoke, virtually, are saying, "I will not listen. I am going to smoke even though I shall most likely make myself ill. To hell with it, you can pay for me.' Ignoring Climate Change is in the same ball park." You can quote me if you like, and refer him to www.kare-uk.org for an example of the complexity and dangers of the situation as applied to Dungeness. By the way I wrote it in the mid nineties. Now
some people locally are beginning to take note.
Do I sound as if I am getting a bit hot under the collar. You bet I am, especially when I play with my great grandson.
Never mind, at least we beat Australia a second time.
Love to you and yours from A and me.
Hello Alan.
something a little more positive, took a wander up Beinn Udlaidh to see if there was anything doing and also try and find something sheltered from the wind.
success on both counts with Quartzvein Scoop in reasonably good condition and no wind in that corner-at least until the top!
a few other parties in the corrie climbing West Gully, Zigzag Gully and maybe South Gully of Black Wall, someone also backed off steep icefall to right of Quartzvein (unsure of route). unable to comment on condition of these or other routes as visibility was poor. Ice Crew also looked good if a little lean at bottom.
Could do with some more freeze thaw and it would all be very good.
thanks Bob
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posted by Westcoast Mountainguides @ 18:47
Cold and windy
Friday, 9 February 2007
At the moment Blogger is having trouble with uploading images. This is not just my site, but has effected others as well. Watch this space.We
(Chris and I) climbed Siamese Twin, which is the thinner ice groove to the right of Left Twin. Well done Chris. It is well protected with wires in its lower section, plus two or three ice screws higher up. It is rather harder than Left Twin. Watch out for bombing the crowds in Left Twin. Sorry Jamie!
Hi Alan
Sorry about this but your blog won't take my password... could you stick this comment on the thread?
I think I'll call it a day after this... :)
Best
Tim
Folks, please read my original comment more carefully.
I didn't say "Don't take action yourself". I wouldn't say that, because I do take action myself. What I said was: "Don't be fooled by big business and the politicians into thinking that global warming is all your problem, and not mainly theirs".
Compare global poverty. You think for a moment that you can solve that one by not buying your kids any birthday presents? The causes of poverty are systemic and political, and the same applies to the causes of global warming.
Come on, get out of the guilt trap, and campaign for political change. If you want self-flagellation there's no need to go on an I'm-not-green-enough bender; you can get all the pain you need just walking up the Allt a'Mhuillin.
Rant over. :)
posted by Westcoast Mountainguides @ 14:53
Bitter Breezes from the East
Thursday, 8 February 2007
Hi Alan
The attached picture was taken on Wednesday afternoon form the top of Binnein Mor, using an Olympus u1000.To be in the mountains of Scotland in such perfect conditions is no act of chance. Watch the weather forecast do not dither, and go for it. I set out at 4:00 from Preston And was on top of Sgorr Dhearg at 13:00pm. Thanks for the brew. TOM.
Thanks Tom. I'm having trouble uploading images just now. I'll try in the morning. Today I was on Aonach Mor - Siamese Twin. It is really important to have very sharp tools just now, as the ice is very brittle in places and in others it is extremely solid and hard. The same applies to the turf.
The weather proved to be rather chilly, with a stiff easterly breeze blowing up the cliffs. The forecast appears to be okay for the next few days.
posted by Westcoast Mountainguides @ 22:40
Deep Chill and more to come
Wednesday, 7 February 2007
Thanks to Colin Reilly for his splendid pictures taken on the summit plateau of Ben Nevis today. Capital venue:-)
Hi Alan
Yesterday Stevo and I had a plan to do White Line III, but when we got up into Coire na Ciste a lot of the routes on Raeburn's Buttress, including White Line, looked thin and challenging. So because the III looked hard, we moderated our ambitions and went for a IV instead. :) We romped up Comb Gully on magnificent neve in three pitches from the triangular rock on the right with the perfect nut-crack. Alternating leads meant Stevo led the crux, the short sharp icefall just above the triangular rock, on his first IV. The ice was beautiful all the way, but the second pitch did have some hollow bits and required a little care. The third pitch (Stevo's again) was a walk-up, with no cornice to speak of.
A very busy day on the hill, although not everything was in condition-- the first icefall on Green Gully is a lot harder than III,4 just now. And as your pictures show, the middle of Three Gully Buttress (where Diana and Aphrodite are supposed to be) isn't really there at all, even though there is a monster cornice above it.
Incidentally, here's my input on this global warming issue. There's this curious idea going around that the only way to deal with global warming is by individuals making it a matter of personal responsibility to have less fun, travel less, and generally turn themselves into puritan miserabilist eco-fascists. Can't think where this idea comes from, but it certainly shields the real culprits for global warming-- the big oil companies and the politicians--from having to take effective action. Of course we should be careful what we do. But we should stop thinking that being green means we're never allowed to have any fun (e.g. by flying to Rjukan!). And we should put more pressure on our so-called leaders to address our environmental problems effectively at the political level.
A pleasure to meet your dalmatian, by the way. What's s/he called? And can you post a picture of the beastie? Yes Tim, the one you met is called Megan. The one in this shot is Cleo. Did Stevo walk off with a key to his room?
Best
Tim
(Correction: "the first icefall on Green Gully is a lot harder than III,4 just now" should read "the first icefall on Glover's Chimney is a lot harder than III,4 just now, and the start to Green Gully looks a bit gnarly too".)
posted by Westcoast Mountainguides @ 11:40
Wall to Wall Sunshine and Frost
Tuesday, 6 February 2007
posted by Westcoast Mountainguides @ 21:59
Great Day all Over
Monday, 5 February 2007
Hi Alan,
The Norries were looking splendid today with all buttresses white in Lochan and Sneachda, with the turf well and truely frozen. There was snow falling for 3 or 4 hours as well. We had a very pleasent climb on the Message and there were others in the corrie on various routes.
Cheers Adam (Edinburgh)
Creag Coire na Ciste on Ben Nevis was busy today with teams on Comb & Green Gully, Central Gully Right-Hand, South Gully, Wendigo and Thomson's Chimney and Two-Step. All routes are looking reasonable if a little chopped up. Psychedelic Wall, Satanic Verses, Caledonia, Smith's on Gardyloo Buttress, Tower Scoop, Upper Tower Cascade. Indicator Wall. Good Friday Climb, all getting ascents.
One area which looked thin but okay and empty was Upper Cascade above Raeburn's Easy Route.
The snow/ice above 900 metres is truly 'bombproof' and a joy to climb with sharp tools.Orion Face Direct has gone and Point Five Gully looked pretty thin. All of the big easy gullies are okay, but Number Three Gully is carrying a 'Daddy' of a cornice.
No worries Alan,
'gorms ARE blank, blankist I've seen this year. Even the couloir in Lochain has a broken section and many snow gullies are being done on turf, loose rock littered on the surface especially near red gully/goat track gully area - a lot of it is being sent down by climbers on cold days - not just when it is thawing - its just too lean to be holding much of it together. Plenty of neve and big patches for skills though, took a group up the Cas, down Domhain, under Hells Lum (has been icey but all falling down on Saturday - no routes complete) quickly to avoid odd lump of falling ice, up the left side of Feith Buidhe and down above the twin burns of Lochain. Then on saturday built belays and mountaineered our way up and down the side of the Twin Burns in Lochain.
Regards,
Al
posted by Westcoast Mountainguides @ 21:09
More Cold Weather on the Way
Sunday, 4 February 2007
Alan, climbed Ben Lui yesterday (saturday) in fantastic weather. Central Gully and indeed the entire face of the mountain, although not the ridges, have held onto a substantial covering of iron hard neve, with previous climber footholes providing a staircase to the summit. The climbing was straightford but very enjoyable none the less. My photos shows my buddy Fred Cochrane close to topping out and the East summit from the West. All in all the day proved Ben Lui still provides a classic 'mountaineering' day out.
Ross Nicol, Dundee
Thanks Ross. It looks like some good climbing conditions for places which have held on to large amounts of snow, namely Ben Lui and Ben Nevis plus Aonach Mor. The forecast is showing freezing at sea-level for the next few days. It's a clear night tonight, after a muggy day in front of the TV watching Man Utd notch up another four goals to stay clear in the Premiership:-))
posted by Westcoast Mountainguides @ 21:33
Sunny and Cool
Saturday, 3 February 2007
Another very fine day out west. Thanks to David Haygarth for the picture of The Couloir (?) in Coire an Lochan yesterday in the Cairngorms. Check the neat stacking of ice axes, which are clipped into slings and carabiners to avoid dropping them. Also a three-point anchor and a runner close to the stance. With the cooler airstream any, snow left in the high gullies will now be well consolidated. The forecast looks good for a wee while yet.
posted by Westcoast Mountainguides @ 12:20
Sunny and getting Colder
Friday, 2 February 2007
A very fine day today with cooler weather on the way. No groups out just now, but will report back ASAP. At least the Mallard Ducks on Loch Morlich look happy, even if the cliffs in the distance are looking pretty sick just now!
Reports back from Ben Nevis and Aonach Mor reinforce the feeling that conditions are good. Two-Step Corner and Indicator Wall were climbed today and a number of good solid routes on Aonach Mor. The cooler conditions appear to be working there magic.
I have allowed one anonymous comment on to this site recently. It will be the last one, as I believe if you want to make a point you need to come out of the woods and identify yourself. The comment was connected with short-haul flights to Norway for ice climbing and how they are possibly having an effect on global warming.
I don't dispute that this might be the case, but none of us really know if the problem is of our modern making or equally connected with the Industrial Revolution and our Victorian forebearers as well. Also, if we take it to its logical conclusion, none of you south of the 'Highland Line' will ever drive or fly to Glasgow and the Highlands of Scotland ever again. What we must all do is to invest in payments in various forms which will be used to develop carbon neutral practices. I hope that by all paying towards this technology, we can all enjoy long holidays in far away places.
No doubt this thread will open up a large can of worms!
posted by Westcoast Mountainguides @ 14:09
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Thanks to Walter Black for these lovely pictures of Gardyloo Gully. A fine day out with Charles Speyer and the guide Owain Jones, topping out on a fine sunny day.
Summit of Ben Nevis on 26th February.
Summit view across Tower Ridge, Loch Eil and Rum just visible in the distance.
Cascade area
Number Two Gully Buttress
