Tools for winter.... when it comes back... if.....

Precision

Posture

Picks

And v threads (ok...I ran out of 'p's)

Day 3 of our Winter Climbing Into. at Glenmore Lodge and things are not looking great. Rain all night and forecast for the morning and more mild gales. Still, never say die.

We began with couple of hours on the granite towers at the Lodge looking at simple climbing movement on off vertical ground. First in boots, then with crampons and finally with axes too.

Then we made a flying visit to a very sorry looking Coire an t Sneachda. There is not a single line complete in the coire and even the ice patches were looking smaller today. Also a lot of rock and ice fall due to the heavy thaw conditions- take care anywhere beneath the crags, let alone in the Gullies.

We used one of the remaining tongues of snow too look at bucket seats and buried axes- pitching up to a rock wall where we could learn to place pegs. Next to that was a convenient ice boss for the lads to use to create a couple of v threads. We linked these and abseiled down the snow slope to make a snow bollard for a second abseil before running for home.

A good look at a range of tools for winter. Now.... if only it would pay use a visit. I have a funny feeling that we might get a cold March.....