Josh, Griffen and I headed up to Coire an Lochan in the Northern Coires hoping to find from hard snow and ice to climb. I reckoned after the  meltdown last weekend and the temperature inversion this week, any surviving snow would be hard and icy. We were rewarded with some excellent hard snow and a fair bit of ice to the far right of the cliffs. Griff and Josh got to practice setting up belays and runners -even ice screws –  and look at skills for leading winter climbs. At the top of the crag we got an excellent 50 metres of hard snow and ice.

Buttresses are completely dry and stripped but all the snow is hard and icy on the plateau. Axe and crampons and care needed.