Lurchers Crag, fat ice and big screws

Fat ice in Central Gully

 Walking in to Lurcher's Gully

 Spot the wind blown icicles

The team waiting patiently

 Solid belay

 Matt hanging in there

 

 Joe happy as ever

 Last ice pitch

 Come on up

Topping out

It was a slightly earlier start today as Phil and I both wanted to take our teams to Lurchers Crag. We were able to drive part way to Rothiemurcus Lodge to take a couple of Km off of the walk in but it was still a very sweaty plouter! JC and Ferdia headed for K9, Phil and Rocio both took teams to North Gully and that left us to head further over towards Central. Another team followed us up the route but were extremely sensible in avoiding being anywhere we could bomb them (thanks guys). We had a few great, fat ice pitches (22cm screws in the belay, carrying rock gear was a waste of time) and quite a bit of soft snow plodding in between. Despite being a bit weary from yesterday Matt kept on going and Joe just kept pointing out how amazing it all was!

We topped out into poor vis. and wandered along the rim of the Lairig Ghru until we could drop down below the Chalamain Gap and back round the corner to the minibus. Well done to Joe and especially Matt for toughing it out on a long and tiring day.

Sounds icey on the west too: Gemini, Waterfall Gully, Carn Dearg Cascades, the Curtain and Vanishing getting atention.