The “big freeze” that’s brought good snow to the Cairngorms didn’t reach south – I spent the weekend with Lettie, Lewis and Richard on an assessment. We went up Ben Narnairn on Saturday – a cold day with some snow and ice in places. Saturday night and Sunday we spent navigating around The Steeple above Lochgoilhead. After a snowy start on sunday it became milder and wet.
Snow higher up on the Arrochar Alps as I came back this evenging, but not in climbing condition yet, I’m affriad!

I was up at Glenmore Lodge this weekend working on the MCofS University Club Seminar.
On Saturday, Nick, Susan, Ewan and I went out and looked at contour features using orienteering maps, and also looking at tick-off and catching features when navigating.

Sunday, Cora, John, Richard and I spent the day revising rock-climbing skills – we had a morning revising anchor placements and equalising anchors; then the afternoon we took these skills onto the towers an used them in action. We then looked at personal abseils – how to run away!

There was a dusting of fresh snow on the hills yesterday, and it was below freezing as I left the Lodge – snow forecast!

There’s been a few posts about climbing in Iceland in UKC of late – here’s a few links to useful information:

Halli’s overview of climbing in Iceland:
http://www.mountainactive.co.uk/library/iceland.pdf

Some photos of a first ascent in April 2006:
http://www.mountainactive.co.uk/photos/iceland/Bursfellhyrna.html
and some more pics
http://www.mountainactive.co.uk/photos/iceland/

The Icelandic Alpine Club:
http://www.isalp.is

Loch Ba and the Bridge of Orchy Hills

Cold weather and snows in early November has led to a few early-season routes reported on various websites.

The Met Office seem to be predicting a less milder winter than last year -
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/seasonal/winter2008_9/
which can only be a good thing as there was loads of good snow and winter climbing last year!