Thursday 17 February 2011

Another Beautiful day in Glencoe. School House Ridge II.
















Today was as good as it gets in the mountains any where in the world. To avoid the deep and unconsolidated snow, Steve and I headed for the prominent and most striking School House Ridge, Grade II on Sgorr Dhearg above Ballachulish. We were really lucky as the snow line started about 500m and the snow was firm under crampon. It's a fabulous route in good snow cover, steep little steps exposed in places lead to a fine broad ridge and hence to its summit of 947m. From there one of the most shapely coire rims in Scotland awaits, which in turn leads onto Sgorr Dhearg's fine 1024m summit. Today we descended the narrow North Ridge and went exploring into Allt Guibhsachain, a remote and isolated coire, hidden from the road by forestry. NW facing slopes remain loaded with deep soggy snow, which was increasingly warming up as the day went on. It was raining in the glen as we reached the cars, these are the best days out when plans work out and the weather is kind.