QMD and a Grade I Recognised ridge added separately to this entry as a winter climb.
A stunning day doing the famous 'ring of steal'. From the steal hut (where we were staying), we took an extremely direct - albeit rather dodgy - route up to Sgurr a'Mhaim. Up extremely steep gullies with loose and greasy snow, ice axes were used (and indeed vegetation). From about 500m the snow became more widespread and compact, and the steep off-piste ascent route started to level out. It was at about 600m that we all put crampons on. Once up at the needle summit of the first Munro, we surveyed the ridge ahead. Conditions were clear enough with stunning views across to The Ben, the other Mammores, Grey Corries and Glencoe. That said we had a strong south westerly wind all day - most brutal at the bealachs where we had to walk fast to avoid being swept over. The wind was also strong enough to have scoured away any powder snow, but also had led to some pretty large cornices. For me, it was my first winter season and I had a few weeks ago attended my first winter skills course. I had been involved in planning the route, anticipating the terrain and had taken over leading some of the navigation legs. I learnt a lot about the winter environment, and general mountain experience. It was on the Devil's ridge scramble one of my walking crampons slipped off (when back home this was my cue to buy my own winter boots, crampons and an ice axe). It was a long day in difficult conditions, but for those of us starting out as Scottish winter mountaineers, a huge amount of experience was gained - winter scrambling, ridge route-finding, strong winds, walking in crampons, bealachs are often windier than summits!
- Significant mountains (Munros) and a significant ridge
- I helped plan and led some of the walk
- I used navigation skills
- My knowledge was increased and skills practiced
- Attention paid to safety at all times
- Over 5 hours
- UK winter mountain terrain
- Ice axes and crampons carried and used!
Area :
Ben Nevis & Aonach Mor (Fort William To Loch Leven)
This area covers the mountains between Fort William, Loch Leven (to the south) and Loch Treig (to the east). The area includes Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg, The Mamores, The Aonachs and The Grey Corries. An impressive 20 Munros are split equally by Glen Nevis and the waters of Abhainn Rath. Relatively accessible from the A82, these mountains hold some classic walking and climbing routes such as The Ring of Steall in the Mamores and Point Five Gully on Ben Nevis. Includes all major peaks above 600m.
