Saturday’s mild weather didn’t pursade Lee and I to go winter climbing on sunday, so we opted for a dry and sunny day rock climbing at Dunkeld.

We had a great day at the Cave Crags climbing The Hood and Flook; then off to Polney to climb Terminal Buttress/The End and Bollard Buttress direct.

Forecasts are for more snow on the highest tops – so there’s still plenty of winter out there – still spaces on courses for this winter – drop me an email!

Winter skills day today with Adventure Edinburgh/EICA Ratho. Racheal, Jack, Charlie, Glenn and I went up to Coire Cas to practice some winter skils and maybe bag Cairngorm.

The snow pack was mostly soft, but the occaisional bit of ice – strong winds kept us of the plateau and we ended up digging snow shelters, looking at foot work and ice axe skills.

Adam went over to Corie Snec and climbed Invernookie with Lee and James – he said it was “touch and go” with the snow and turf as some wasn’t that well frozen.

Some snow forecast for tomorrow after more heavy rain.

Cracking weekend with Jerome and Adrian in the Northern Corries on a winter climbing course for EICA:Ratho. Dry with bone hard neve and ice in places. We avoided the crowds in a blue-sky day on saturday by climbing a line to the right of No.4 buttress in Coire an Lochan. This gave a good, long climb on snow and ice right to the plateau. Such an amazing day we didn’t rush off the hill and savoured the setting sun.

Sunday Jerome and Adrian had a go a leading their first winter route – we went to the “Twin Ribs” area running of the Fiaciall Ridge and they built rock and snow anchors all the way up – a bit colder but snow still rock-hard.

(L to R: Steep snow; Jerome at a stance; setting sun; Adrian leading)

Saturday – great day on the hill with Eric Pirie shadowing a Scottish Moutain Rescue avalanche weekend – looking at the snow pack, assessing risk, practicing safe-travel and tranceiver searches.

Sunday – mild wild and wet – big thaw it seems – Andrew and I went up to Corie Ciste to look at crampon work and snow belays, but with strong winds and rain we retreated to Huntly’s Cave to go climbing, look at abseil retreats and ascending fixed lines for his trip to the Himalya.

Pics: Top – Corie an t’Snechda on Satuday; absieling off cave route on sunday – Below – John checking the snow pack.

More snow today – we didn’t venture on the hill but spent the day in the Lodge looking at mixed climbing movement skills, and transfer rock climbing movement skills into ice and mixed climbing – excellent session!

End of the MIC training today – excellent week!

SAIS issued another high 4 today – loads of snow – ski-ing sounds a good option.