UKC

Does anyone have any recent info on conditions up in the North West? Has it caught the major snowfalls of the last few days?

In reply to chaser:

I was out today - hillwalking on Sgorr Ruadh, and took in a wee gully as well . Conditions in Torridon are quite good. Snow line about 5oo metres but not too deep accumulations. Plenty of solid neve. About 6 white vans, including Glenmore Lodge, at Coire Dubh car park. Cloud cleared and sun came out. Very good weather forecast for North west for next 2 days before it all breaks down again on Friday. No photos - forgot camera!

In reply to The Watch of Barrisdale:

thanks for your reply. Which gully did you do?

In reply to chaser:

I suspect it's fairly anonymous! A Grade 1 plod - albeit on perfect neve.

In reply to chaser:

Bump.

Winter walking up there next week. Whats the crack?

D

In reply to Dauphin:

Quite a bit of snow high up, also ice on walls. Was trying to climb in glas tholl but got rained off. Looked like it was raining to top. Complete soaking to skin with proper burns and rivulets in spate. Still could change a lot between now and next week though.

In reply to French Erick:

Looks like its getting colder. Not much forecast to drop. Just wondering how much on the ridges.

D

In reply to Dauphin:

I was on the Liathach ridge on Friday and it was a great day out, well plastered with fresh snow. It helped we got sunshine and light winds.

Loads of snow up on Beinn Eighe ridge as well, up there on Saturday.

In reply to chaser:

Would anyone recommend a particular guidebook for the Torridon area? Thinking of going up next weekend. Is there enough coverage in the SMC "Scottish Winter Climbs" or would I be better off with one of the area-specific ones ("Northern Highlands South", I think)?

In reply to chaser:

Any updates from torridon please folks?

In reply to chaser:

Lots of snow, down to 300m today. The ridges will be ok, although progress will be a bit slower than usual.

In reply to KA:

thanks, are the roads generally ok?

In reply to chaser:
Quite a blizzard came in this afternoon and covered even many of the lower roads, but we were fortunate enough to be following a snow plough from Kinlochewe back to Lochcarron. The main roads are cleared pretty quickly though, and should be ok as of tomorrow.

Snowing heavily to sea level now.

In reply to chaser:

Any updates from Torridon, Applecross or Lochcarron?

In reply to chaser:

I was up in Torridon yesterday. More snow than I expected made it hard going

Beinn Eighe yesterday:

http://stewartmountainskills.blogspot.co.uk/

In reply to chaser:


Headed up to Poacher's Fall on Liathach today, fantastic route!
http://www.masterplan-mountaineering.co.uk/2014/02/poachers-fall/

In reply to alastairbegley:

Nice pics- looks like a great day out!

In reply to brianrunner:

Beinn eighe was as white as I ever saw it. eastern rampart particularly (only 1 party? may be around shangh high?).
Ice in places. Hot shots of ice, I tried vishnu but did not have the balls to finish p3, may be you can? It's the most complete that any of us ever saw (3 totally at least 20 visits to that crag on different days).

In reply to chaser:

I had another day on Liathach today in more scottish weather, good fun day out! http://www.masterplan-mountaineering.co.uk/2014/02/climbing-george-liathach...

In reply to chaser:

Beinn Bhan - Traverse of A' Cioch and Liathach - Umbrella Falls

http://stewartmountainskills.blogspot.co.uk/

In reply to chaser:

Beinn Bhan - Traverse of A' Cioch and Liathach - Umbrella Falls

http://stewartmountainskills.blogspot.co.uk/

In reply to ian stewart:

More pics of Beinn Bhan. Not quite Torridon, but close enough for an idea.

http://mattsmithclimbs.blogspot.co.uk/

In reply to chaser:

Any grade II and III gullies going to be worth going for in Torridon or An Teallach tomorrow? Avalanche forecast looks good.

In reply to alastairbegley:

Another vote for George!

My mate Gregor and I did it last Saturday - great route and I agree with your account Alastair - not too easy for III!

M

In reply to tsarted:

Can't comment on what the climbing would be like, but An Teallach is currently *plastered* in what looks like a ridiculous amount of snow. Big cornices about.

Taken Monday morning: http://www.flickr.com/photos/readza/12623191654/

In reply to Jon Read:
Poachers both branches of George and salmon leap (not amazing apparently) were ticked today. Loads of teams on the ridge.

Bein. Eighe not so good far west striped, jenga was buried.

In reply to Mark Bannan:

Re George, I guess the crux pitch will be a bit more sustained now there's another bit of tech 4 in there.

In reply to chaser:

Ling, Lawson and Glover's Route on Sail Mhor was under a very heavy cover of snow today. Thawing and soft lower down, improved a lot higher up.

In reply to chaser:

fantastic day today on a traverse of Beinn Alligin, hard work trail breaking with lots of fresh snow around! http://www.masterplan-mountaineering.co.uk/2014/02/winter-traverse-beinn-al...

In reply to chaser:

Poachers fall today, not bad conditions good first time placements just a bit of powder in places but still amazing route.

In reply to chaser: Salmon's Leap a bit thin and cruddy yesterday. It was snow ice rather than water ice mostly. We had one good screw in each pitch essentially and often some pretty engaging sections pulling onto soft snow after the steeper bits. Crux corner a bit thin and again some crud ice. You can back off from the first belay (fixed io the lhs) or the 2nd (v thread from good ice at the base of the left corner) though if you don't fancy it.

Ridge in surprisingly good conditions with a good trail and mostly firmish snow.

Freezing level was about 900m all day though.

In reply to James Dunn:

Did Ben Alligin Monday via Deep South Gully, sounds like lots of snow high up since then. Liathach yesterday, trail breaking to top of first Munro, we turned back as we had a novice with us, great day out. Other routes carried on for full traverse.