A weekend in Glencoe

For our third Scottish winter trip we decided to give Glencoe a visit. Keen to advance our skills, we hired a guide (Simon Verspeak) for two of our three days. We asked for help learning some basics of outdoor ropework and being safe on the mountains.

Day 1 - Geàrr Aonach

Permalink to “Day 1 - Geàrr Aonach”

It was a wet, windy day. Simon took us to Geàrr Aonach. It was partially sheltered from the wind, but we couldn’t go too high before the ground was too unstable. We focused on gear placement in the morning and emergency techniques in the afternoon.

Two hikers climb a somewhat steep snowy hillside. It’s overcast with flurries of snow around. — Photo by Chris Natt.
Ed Horsford ― Geàrr Aonach ― 2018/02/16
1/6400s at f/3.5, 20mm, ISO 500, Nikon D800

Looking down on Chris on the side of a snowy mountain. — Chris Natt ― Geàrr Aonach ― 2018/02/16
1/2000s at f/1.8, 28mm, ISO 160, Sony RX100m2

Ed stoops low to place a piece of climbing gear in a rockface. — Photo by Chris Natt.
Ed Horsford ― Geàrr Aonach ― 2018/02/16
1/400s at f/2.5, 20mm, ISO 500, Nikon D800

Chris holds a large boulder of snow as he faces the camera. — Chris Natt ― Geàrr Aonach ― 2018/02/16
1/4000s at f/2.4, 28mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800

Chris and our guide pull on a length of rope coming towards the camera. The rope runs around a pillar of snow making an anchor. — Chris and Simon pull on an improvised snow anchor.
Chris Natt ― Geàrr Aonach ― 2018/02/16
1/6000s at f/2, 28mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800

Day 2 - Aonach Mòr

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For our second day we headed for the valley between Aonach Mòr and Càrn Dearg Meadhonach. The west side of Aonach Mòr had several groups headed for it that morning.

Two groups of climbers walk towards the horizon in snow. The sky is foggy / overcast and blending in with the ground. The climbers are all wearing brightly coloured clothing. — Aonach Mòr ― 2018/02/17
1/750s at f/5.6, 38mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800

Ed and a guide walk up a snowy mountain on an overcast day. The camera angle is near to the ground looking up at their backs. They’re both connected by a climbing rope. — Photo by Chris Natt.
Ed Horsford ― Aonach Mòr ― 2018/02/17
1/8000s at f/3.5, 20mm, ISO 500, Nikon D800

Simon took us up a not-too severe route. Probably a mix of grade 1 & 2. For the most part we probably didn’t need to be roped in - but it was good to practice our technique.

Ed wearing a green softshell jacket with hood over his helmet on the side of a snowy mountain. — Photo by Chris Natt.
Ed Horsford ― Aonach Mòr ― 2018/02/17
1/1500s at f/1.8, 28mm, ISO 20, iPhone 7

Ed and Chris pose together facing the camera on the edge of Aonach Mòr. Both are wearing green jackets and are tied together with a green climbing rope. — Chris Natt, Ed Horsford ― Aonach Mòr ― 2018/02/17
1/1000s at f/3.3, 34mm, ISO 100, Nikon D800

A snowy mountainside and valley, with swirls of snow in the air. — Aonach Mòr ― 2018/02/17
1/7400s at f/1.8, 28mm, ISO 20, iPhone 7

Our thanks to Simon for an enjoyable two days and for adapting so well to some less than ideal weather conditions.