Manchester University Mountaineering Club Winter Mountaineering and Walking Skills Course.

This weekend we have been working for Hebridean Pursuits out in the mountains with students from Manchester. They were back for their annual skills course weekend. And what a weekend it was! A fantastic bunch and so keen to learn. The conditions allowed us to really instruct the essential skills required to get out into the winter mountains. Day 1 and 2 are seen in these pictures. We headed to Aonach Mor where we found brilliant snow to practice ice axe and crampon techniques and a whole lot more. The weather was very changable and pretty wild at times but this gave the students a reality check of just how tricky it can be in the Scottish winter mountains. With 27 students out on the hill we broke into smaller groups to go off on a journey up the Nid Ridge where we found wonderful neve and blue ice bulges to practice climbing on. Day 2 Sunday, was a totaly different day. We headed up into Stob Coire nan Lochan to put all the skills into place on it's majestic peak. We ascended it's 1150m summit in near perfect conditions. The NE ridge was scoured and ideal for cramponing up. The sun shone most of the day. All the team reached the summit and rightly they were impressed by the sublime views way out to the west coast. A truely classic day out in the mountains. Thanks to Scott Kirkhope and Julie Baum for working with us theis weekend. And to Alan Kimber for his support with boot hire and the students loved staying at Culluna. And of course thanks to all the students, Joe Fisher for coming up to Scotland for the weekend. Andy Spink