When I did this last, I was a novice and had to be shown how to scramble. This time I was a leader leading a novice and it was good training and a confidence boost. Indeed, it was misty and the first sramble off Am Bodach was wet and slippery. I had to do some gentle coaching to convince my companion that it improves and that the clag was at the Rannoch end. This it proved as the weather and rock improved in terms of dryness. I was able to help him understand how to move on rock, keep his hands lower to see what`s below for feet, and live in the moment - concentrating only on the task immediately in front. Not what was coming up on the ridge. He loved it as I knew he would (as did I) as he`d loved Crib Goch a few weeks earlier. We took the new track down toward the Pap and down.
I led and planned the route with a near-novice.Traditional navigation skills were not really required in terms of map and compass, but following a ridge while managing a novice and knowing where to go took some effort and a constant knowledge of where we were and wanted to get to - especially after the fun bits. The descent toward the pap was the only bit of off piste I'd planned but someone has come along and built a new track down it roughly following the route I'd planned. Great minds think alike :-)UK hillsknowledge was increased and skills practised - Not sure if taking a novice on the Aonach Eagach is strictly ML remit but he was a friend and I'd brought a rope. I wasn't expecting to use it but the only difficulty was the first down-scramble from Am Bodach which was in the morning clag and slippery.attention was paid to safety and I was helping Jerry keep mindful of the immediate problems. He kept looking ahead at a seemingly blank face when I had to keep reminding him that we were following crampon scratches, the route would become apparent nearer and by the way there's a good foothold here and I'm spotting you ....five hours or more journey timeadverse conditions were be encountered in terms of morning damp but this dried off to a stunningly hot day so mindful of over heating and layering.
Area :
Glencoe North (Loch Leven To Rannoch Station)
This area covers the northern side of Glen Coe and the mountains north of Rannoch Moor. Notable features include the Pap of Glencoe, the Aonach Eagach ridge (home to a few kilometres of horizontal scrambling) and the remote peak of Stob na Cruiache which is generally accessed from the train station to the east. Includes all major peaks above 600m.
