Solid turf and plastic ice...

Couple of reports from the weekend: Sandy Patterson was out on Sunday (20th Jan) in Coire an t-Sneachda with Luke Osborne. They decided to head up to the Mess of Pottage, this was busy on the right hand side with numerous parties starting 'Haston Line', the 'Direct Start' to 'Hidden Chimney' and 'Hidden Chimney'.

The rest of the crag was quiet so they decided to head over to do 'The Hybrid', Sandy describing it as being in "OK condition with the turf well frozen and most of the snow beginning to consolidate although the larger patches just had breakable crust on".

Rob Jarvis, Andy Turner and Matt Helliker had a good day out racing around most of the northern Cairngorms. In Sneachda they climbed 'Aladdin's Mirror Direct', 'Aladdin's Couloir', 'Goat Track Gully', 'Red Gully' and '0.5 Gully'.

On Stag Rocks they descended 'Diagonal' and climbed some superb Cascades (see link to Rob's video below). They finished the day with an ascent of 'Deep Cut Chimney', the last mixed pitch of which provided a good "mixed" contrast to the rest of the day on ice. For Rob's excellent reports at Highland Guides check out http://www.highlandguides.com/winterreports0708.htm

Also at the weekend Steve and Sue Fisher climbed 'Staghorn Gully' on Creag Meagaidh, although it may have been in less than perfect condition. Another party was also avalanched in the corrie..