St.Margarets School return!

Snow shelter building, even if you hit grass!

Using boots only practice.

Self arrest practice.

The Gang!

the sun shone all weekend.

Andy and Richard spent the weekend working for http://www.hebrideanpursuits.com/ in Glencoe with the pupils form St.Margaret's School in Edinburgh.

The pupils did so well as we had to go very high to find a really good snow to use for teaching skills on.

On Saturday we went up the Little Buachaille and on Sunday we went up Meall a' Bhuiridh.

Thanks to the school, its staff and the pupils for a lovely weekend and their enthusiasm to try new things and really push themselves up these beautiful hills!

We look forward to next years adventures!

Glencoe shine on Friday 29th Jan.

Looking up Lairig Eilde.

the guys reaching the summit of Stob Dubh.

Looking out towards Ben Starav and beyond to the west coast.

Andy was out up on Stob Dubh above Lairig Eilde on Friday, this is an ideal peak for running winter skills and walking courses on as its fairly easy to ascend and the starting point is relatively high.

The conditions were just great, light winds but great visibility! The views across the glen and towards Mull were some of the best this winter.

A damp day on Mull today!

Loch na Keal.

Beinn Ghraig 591m a fine wee hill for the afternoon...

An amazing fungus!

Part of a new canyon that i will be definitely descending in the spring.

Today I was on Mull exploring some nooks and crannies I had wanted to have a look at for working in and on.

The met office had promised sunshine at 3pm but hey hoe it just got damper!

It was a interesting hunt around and i have now some new ideas for clients in the summer.

Misty Morning Hop!

My wee boy was two yesterday! Can't believe how quickly time passe's!

The woods glistened with dew and early morning mist, the cold air hung low in the glens and the trees seemed relieved not to be swamped in fresh snow.

Taking Ben out out early before his party was a joy, the often over looked corners of the highlands offer so much in contrast to the higher fells and mountains, of which i have Ben to thanks as these rambles are becoming hugely important in my exploration of scotlandoutside.

I am out working again this weekend in Glencoe and www.hebrideanpursuits.com has places and dates left for winter courses until end of April and then we will be starting to gear up for the sea kayaking season and residentials at Tavool House on Mull. The seasonal aspect of our work is so compelling and refreshing!

Broad Gully and Dorsal Arete.

Andy was out with Rodi and Mari-ann today in Glencoe.

The guys were on the first day of a winter leading course, so we started by looking at all things snow! We went up into Broad Gully where conditions were just great for winter belays and then climbed up onto Dorsal Arete just before the steeper pitches where we found ideal rock belays to set up. We short roped down the gully and ended by having a look at snow profiles and pits. A fun and constructive day !

The weather was mixed, the snow pack stable and the corie was pretty busy with folk on a variety of routes including SC!

The guys are out tomorrow and the forecast looks really good!

The mighty Dorsal Grat!

Andy near the top ploughing through the new snow.

Scott on the top pitch.

Scott belaying below the arete.

Andy enjoying the Dorsal Grat!

Today Andy and Scott took on the Dorsal Grat!

The new snow on the arete was so banked out it covers most of the usual rocks that normally offer great runners and belays.

The Dorsal Arete is an amazing, easy route giving splendid positions high above Stob Corie nan Lochan and avoids any issues of potential avalanche conditions. The belays are just perfect.The weather cleared up as the forecast had predicted, blues skies were the order of the day!

On a different note, do watch 'Three hungry boys' at 4pm on channel four on Saturdays over the next few weeks. Tavool House outdoor centre will be featured , the film crew came out with Hebridean Pursuits Ltd to film part of an episode.

Short Roping coaching In Glencoe.

Today Andy was out with Jamie and Matt in Stob Corrie nan Lochan instructing the 'black art' of short roping! They took an interesting line up the buttress that protects the entrance to the corrie

Being steep and slabby it proved great terrain for some serious experience in this challenging skill.

They moved up and over towards the Boomerang gully area and ascended onto the ridge to the left of this, some steep lower offs left us in the gully and some reasonably unstable new wind slab, the snow being chalky in look and feel made interesting route choices?

Parties were out on Twisting gully, broad gully and Ordinary route, but generally very quiet up there!

Winter remains!