Winter Frustration Abated

Blogging hasn't featured highly on my list of priorities. But the lure of Scottish winter climbing was making a very grumpy person even grumpier! So I made a very short trip to Scotland for one days climbing with John McDonald on Friday 7th Feb. With the difficult weather patterns this winter it was frustrating that an extended spell of reasonable weather coinciding with time off work was ever going to happen.

So sometimes you've just gotta take the chance.

We kipped in the back of Johns van with the promise of a decent weather forecast. It didn't feel too cold on awakening! Drizzle and no visibilty on the walk in and no Crag to be seen. We could have been on the moon instead of Stob Corrie nan Lochain, Glencoe.

The freezing level greeted us @700m and it started to feel like winter and also justify getting out of a warm sleeping bag!

With no one else about  we found our intended Route for the day Central Grooves VII 7 and an uber classic of Scottish winter climbing. As we climbed higher the clouds cleared and gave a wonderful day.

Was it worth it - to be back having breakfast the next morning at home, with having had a great day out in the hills with a great mate and climbed such a great line - Yeah!

For Paul & I the Scottish winter season will be kicking off and with the quantities of snow about it could be a very good for late season climbing. 

1st Pitch Central Grooves

John McD 1st Pitch

Final Pitch