Sunday 8 February 2009

Winter skills course for St.Margarets School.


Up in the White Cories on a glorious day.

On Etive Beag with Glen Etive in the background


Andy and Richard had two great days with the fourth year pupils from St.Margaret's School. Based out of the Glencoe Youth Hostel we introduced the art of winter mountain craft to the very lively and enthusiastic girls.

On Saturday we took them up to the ridge at approx .748m on Creag Dubh to search out some 'interesting' snow terrain. We found it in bucket loads. We concentrated on snow pack analysis, triggered some lovely little controlled slab avalanches and demonstrated Rutsch block cutting, step cutting and self arrest. The northerly wind was harsh on the ridge but out of it we basked in alpine like sunshine!


On Sunday we ascended Buachaille Etive Beag, in amazing conditions the wind switched to the se and we were sheltered all the way to the Bealach. Going was reasonably tough in varying snow conditions, the 15 girls deserve massive respect for this ascent, it was huge challenge for them! well done girls and teachers!

On the descent with looked at crampon use and shelter building as the snow packed lent itself to both tasks just perfectly.


As I left Glencoe the weather was changing as high cloud seemed to be setting in from the south, we had been so lucky with the conditions, there is no landscape finer than Scotland when the conditions are so settled!
Thanks to everyone for a lovely weekend, it was a pleasure to work with you all.








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