UKC

Hi,can anybody tell me what current climbing conds are like in the Northern Corries,Lochain in particular?
UKC log shows little recent activity,is this down to last week's snowfall?

Thanks in advance,
Dave

In reply to Theseboots:

Lots of photos of the Cairngorm Massif inc Coire an Lochain from yesterday on my Facebook albums. The Vent has a massive vertical corniced wall at the top!
See https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.313456935421527.54844.12431016100...

In reply to Ron Walker:

More photos on the Blog too...
See http://talisman-activities.blogspot.co.uk/

Cheers Ron

In reply to Ron Walker: Thanks,Ron

In reply to Theseboots:

Quiet again today despite excellent weather and snow conditions on many routes not threatened by unavoidable cornices - more photos on Facebook!

In reply to Ron Walker:

Hi Ron,
Strange you should mention it was quiet today...I was in 3 separate corries near Bridge of Orchy today - all the routes were in condition and the sun was out after an early freeze....number of climbers apart from me? Er.......none. Any theories?
ANdy

In reply to Andrew Mallinson: school holidays

In reply to Andrew Mallinson:

Andy, as I say I'm not complaining but I really don't understand why more folk are not out winter climbing.
Often in early and mid season, when weather and snow conditions are crap the venues are totally mobbed!

In reply to drunken monkey:

I thought it would be busier in school holidays?

In reply to Ron Walker: I wouldnt. Unless they are taking their kids climbing!

In reply to Ron Walker:


I've been noticing the same, even at weekekends, and it is puzzling.

My twin theories are that fuel costs/recession are starting to bite, and that a lot of folk have "fed their rat" and used up their climbing credits already this season.

There is also the issue of maintaining psyche over a long season - after 5 and a half months of winter routing I'm starting to struggle with this myself!

In reply to Jamie B:

True, and summer rock is an easier option.

In reply to Andy Nisbet:

Andy, Ron & Jamie,

I think you all have excellent points about why there are so few people out - and yes, I DO think there are a LOT less people out. Jamie's point about petrol costs I think is a particularly valid one. I am not complaining either Ron, it's great to be able to do, as I did yesterday, 2 routes and see no other climbers, less than 2 hrs walk from the roadhead, but for some reason I am a bit concerned...and I'm not sure why...possibly because I feel that apart from a core of die-hards, trad/adventurous climbing is dying on it's arse? I rarely see people on trad rock mountain routes these days in Scotland and maybe the winter stuff is heading the same way? Is my concern miss-placed ? Does it really matter anyhow?
ANdy

In reply to Andy Nisbet:

Maybe they have all had the sense to go to the far north!

The school holidays are an issue though< its why I'm not out.

In reply to rogerwebb:

Do send me your new route descriptions for this year, especially Slioch which I'm told you're writing up.

I've noticed in the past that April is quiet.

In reply to Andrew Mallinson:

I don't think winter climbing is declining, but I do think trad rock in the hills is less popular, although new guidebooks have spread folk out.

In reply to Andy Nisbet:

There was me hoping others would do it!

In reply to Andrew Mallinson:
I think folks' minds have moved to warm rock and spring-like activities. Also, if you take away the guys South of the Border who cannot just drop everything just because the conditions are good, you take away a lot of teams. I suggest your 'packed' venues during marginal conditions is due to the 'we're booked, so we're going' phenomenon rather than any insidious alteration in climbing preferences....
Well, that said, an erstwhile winter partner of mine has just come back from a week's clipping in Spain. QED?
I'm hoping to get a few more routes in this year now, but I have a full diary cycling and climbing elsewhere, planned before the current conditions...get my drift?

In reply to Andrew Mallinson:
Very busy on Beinn Dothaidh today so maybe your other post got folk out???

In reply to Mike_Watson_99:
Hi Mike,
Glad to hear it - had a good day yersel ?
ANdy

In reply to Andrew Mallinson:
Don't forget the Lakes and North Wales are enjoying excellent winter climbing conditions, which is almost unheard of in April - a lot of the visitors the Scottish venues usually get in the holidays will simply have saved themselves a big drive and ticked off some of the rarely formed classics south of the border...

In reply to Mike_Watson_99:

IMHO that's part of the problem as folk don't make their own choices but rely on reports on the internet...

In reply to Andy Nisbet:

The last few summers have been pants weatherwise... I haven't gotten much rock done in years. Could explain it...

E

In reply to Ron Walker:
Quite likely Ron. Although a pair of binoculars from the A82 works wonders too.

In reply to Euge: Not in the West of Scotland. Last year we had a super first half of the summer when the rest of the UK was complaining of the rain.
The sudden die off of interest in winter happens every year. You often see 2 consecutive weekends of good conditions on Ben Nevis one where the hill is mobbed and the other a ghost town. This is often in late March. Its like people suddenly run out of psyche for heavy sacks and long walk ins and are looking forwards to dry sunny rock and an easier life.
Agree with Andy about decrease in trad rock climbers in the mountains though.

In reply to AlH:


With you on that, but let's hold that thought for just a couple more days!

In reply to Jamie B:

Wasn't hard to get psyched up on Friday - about as good a day for winter climbing as you'd find anywhere...

http://goo.gl/CrbFG

In reply to AlH:

I tried unsuccessfully to get someone to climb on the buachaille with me last year as well. A lot of trad climbers I know like spending a nice day in the sea breeze and sunshine out at Aberdour/Hawk Craig than heading up into the mountains.

In reply to Milesy: 'Youth of today'... nice to meet you the other day. I'll see you on a hill!

In reply to Milesy:
Or they are all out ski touring as conditions look good at the moment.

In reply to Mike_Watson_99:


Glen Shee hills were certainly pretty busy on Saturday!

In reply to Milesy:



Driving back from Fort William yesterday at 0800 the two Bidean car parks and the wee Buachaille car park totally empty, looked like they did during the last foot and mouth epedemic!! Me and my mate climbed half a dozen routes at the Hawkcraig on sunkissed rock on the 17th Feb, there were a couple there in shorts and didn't look out of place, felt pretty bizzare. The way things are going I'll be climbing in thermals mid summers day.

In reply to Mark Bull:

On Saturday away from the ski area we didn't see many skiers either so maybe folk are just not travelling and going to their local hills!

In reply to Ron Walker: condidions are great in Nwales and the lakes, (unprecedented even for April ?) so a lot of English based climbers not needing to head North ?

In reply to Theseboots:
Took my novice mate over the Tarmachan Ridge on sat, at it was bristling with walkers, and Lawers with ski-tourers. It's just us from the Central Belt aren't needing to go so far North for good conditions right now!
Oh, and I had a great day on Gardyloo Gully on the 29th April last year, and saw almost no-one on the mountain. Nowt new with minds drifting to other things by this time in the season surely.

In reply to Andrew Mallinson:

"I rarely see people on trad rock mountain routes these days in Scotland "

You've obviously not been on the same routes on the same days as me! Admittedly it's definitely possible to have a day doing a mountain route and see no-one, but they're not that easy to come by (maybe easier if you climb harder?).

In reply to AlH:

Yes, last summer was fantastic. Late May all the way through to the end of August!

In reply to Julie Black:
I think there are a lot more climbs logged in the Scottish mountains in a good winter than a good summer though. Most the rock climbers seem to honeypot to a few climbs also, away from those it's quite common to not see other climbers IMO especially on your route. The buchaille however pretty much always has climbers on it during dry summer days!

In reply to CurlyStevo:

Yes in the mountains I think there's a tendency for folk to just flock towards the *** rock classics, more so perhaps than in winter?

In winter you have no choice but to go into the mountains as there's rarely stuff to do at low level - obviously this isn't the case in summer.

In reply to Theseboots: Passed through Sneachda today and observed the following if anybody's interested.
Firstly it was deserted. The Ben seems to be where its at.
Big cornices above the trident gullies.
Some useful ice in the grooves on fluted buttress going by Broken Fingers with reasonably straightforward exits.
Fresh powder collecting on the approach apron.
The goat track looked dodgy, fresh powder sitting on possible windslab.
I descended the gully further towards faicaill buttress (0.5?) which was hard neve for the most part.
hope this helps.