Promising forecast and Mrs Peebles Boy fancied a day out so we went for plan A then B then C then D as we drove up Glencoe. Settled on Dorsal Arete for a final fling at winter. Ended up going for some major bumsliding action from the foot of it instead! Snow was mega soft and wet, ankle deep slush in places, and when the sideways sleet started we decided we would rather be somewhere else. Weather did clear up mind you, but happy not to have slogged any further in the wet snow.
Some photos of the day and the glen in general here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152281591180865.1073741871.7386...
Photos show all of the below info, but brief overview as follows:
Stob Dearg (Buachaille) pretty much clear of snow on all the faces, some bits hanging in on the gullies. Curved Ridge looked complete rock route with snow fields up to the tower exit.
Coire na Tulaich still has some cornice problems, which I would imagine could be easily flanked, just remember that falling off them isn't the only danger they present...droopy and wet at the moment!
Aonach Eagach looked to be totally free of snow on the south side from start to finish.
SCNL itself is holding snow well, but it's very soft and wet. Boomerang, Broad, Forked LHS all complete, but would really want a decent cold snap to make them anything other than an ankle deep wet snow slog.
Sron na Lairig looked to be near enough clear of snow until the very top section.
In short, unless there's a drastic drop in temps soon, I think winter climbing has finished for the season as far as Glencoe is concerned.
To the Ben!!!!
Cheers,
Gordon
