
Great day out with Simon and Mark. Walked in nice and quick passing a few teams. Quick scoot up to the start of Honeypot, no sign of recent ascents so fresh for us.
Mark kicked us off with the first traverse pitch, bit pokey to start, not super helpful snow so slow going but got us there eventually. Simon led the middle pitch up about 30m to just below a short sketchy section.
I lead the final main pitch to the top, longish pitch (50m?). Lot's of unhelpful loose snow covering placements and gear took a good bit of clearing. Managed to go at a good pace though. Crux roof taken on right, (in situ tat and peg just before) was a bit awkward (slightly wobbly adze wedge took a bit of convincing it would stay still).
Walked down to the left (facing the cliff), practiced a bit of short roping and stomper/west coast stomper (preferred - stronger?) on the descent.
Glorious day in terms of weather, climbed with Mark Stevenson and Simond Edwards.
Area :
Cairngorm: Northern Corries, Hell's Lum, Creagan Coire Cha-no, Lurcher's Crag and Outliers
This Area includes some of the most accessible (and some of the hardest) winter climbs in Scotland. Coire an t-Sneachda has an excellent variety of winter climbs, many in the lower to middle grades, while Coire an Lochain hosts classics of a range of grades and some extremely demanding test-pieces. This Area also includes the very accessible Creagan Coire Cha-no, Lurcher's Crag in the northern Lairig Ghru, and the training bluffs of the Chalamain Gap. Also included here are the cliffs of the northern side of the Loch A'an basin such as Hell's Lum, Stag Rocks and Stac an Fharaidh (as they are on the same general massif as Cairngorm), while cliffs on the southern side of Loch A'an are in the Ben Macdui, Carn Etchachan and Shelter Stone Crag Area of DLOG. The range's former name is Am Monadh Ruadh (the red hills), distinguishing them from Am Monadh Liath (the grey hills) to the west of the River Spey.