Monday 14 March 2011

Back to North Buttress


Above: Dave finishing pitch 2

We ventured into Glencoe today with a few ideas in mind, but North Buttress was top of the list as I knew it was in good shape to climb if we could get to it. It was hard work as soon as you stepped off the main road, into the knee deep snow. Fortunately, some kind soles had broke trail. Unfortunately, they appeared to not know the way, so the approach was a bit up and down. Once off the footpath and on to the ridge approach it was fine and the amount of snow was substantially less. The route was still in great condition, and we made rapid progress up the pitches. John and Dave had not lost any skills since last year. We abseiled back down and avoided the wade to the top. There was 1 other team behind us, but we never saw them again after abbing. I did the nice thing (or stupid) and broke a trail back down the footpath to join the path that was broken this morning which should help folk pick a better way in.



Above: John finishing the second pitch
Below: Dave on easy ground after the crux pitch


Apple and Blackberry crumble with custard in the Clachaig went down a treat. Other folks we met had ploughed up into Lochain and turned back. There were tracks heading towards curved ridge as well. Teams from the Brenin went up the zigzags and down Dinnertime buttress as well.

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