Sunday 17 January 2010

Twisting Gully 17 Jan 2010





Today Alex and I went to Stob Coire nan Lochan. It was a pleasant change to walk in in a thermal after yesterday's rain and there was plenty of blue sky around as we chose a route. Alex had read about Twisting Gully and liked the look of the route so we headed on up (many thanks to the two guys who headed to Twisting Grooves rather than queue/risk a tangle).
There were regular waves of spindrift coming down the route but plenty of scoured firm snow to follow giving good climbing. Half way up however the weather turned and as it began to snow the spindrift increased and cornices began to build above the gully- so we upped the pace and made very short work of the upper section (the right side of the headwall area was scoured clean giving firm rapid climbing).
Alex dropped a snapgate and a large nut low on the route... if anyone should happens across them its worth a beer+postage as reward!
Plenty of teams in the coire today enjoying routes (and the usual queues on Dorsal Arete). The strong south westerly was beginning to build cornices around the gully rims and leaving some fresh windslab deposits.
Tday I ws working for Abacus Mountaineering.
I'm now taking my first 2 days off (defintiely not on the hill) since 20th December to do my tax return........ :-(

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