Last week a sudden change to cold and snowy weather born on easterlies meant deep powder rapidly swamped much of the highlands. With windslab building on north and westerly aspects and many mixed routes buried in unconsolidated snow, big ridges and buttresses have been a good choice of late. Andy and I ambitiously thought Beinn Eighe might have collected enough snow for the harder routes to become acceptably wintery but upon arriving in Torridon we quickly realised mountaineering in the stunning weather was the better choice.

Looking down Way Up (I) and north through the Torridon hills to Loch Maree on the Liathach Main Ridge Traverse (II)

The final stretch of the ridge to Mullach an Rathain affords excellent views into Upper Coire na Caime, the Trinity Gullies and the Northern Pinnacles
First hand accounts from Beinn Eighe of un-wintery conditions confirmed our suspicions, so the next day we continued in the same vein and went to the majestic corries of Beinn Bhan for the Traverse of A’ Chioch (II).

Silver Tear (V, 5) and The Cooler (VI, 6) struggling valiantly to form in the cold dry conditions on the Coire na Poite backwall

Looking back towards A’ Chioch from halfway up the final section of the ridge, with the Glen Carron and Torridon hills beyond

Spectacular views greeted us from the summit plateau across the Inner Sound to the Isle of Skye and a snowy Black Cuillin

The arch-classic Cioch Nose (lower left) and the long upper continuation ridge leading to the summit of Sgurr A’ Chaorachain. The Cuillins of Skye and Rum emerge from the haze in the distance

Andy taking it all in on the descent from Beinn Bhan, wrapping up two days of glorious fun in the sun
So this bizarre winter continues to perplex and at times frustrate, as I’ve found it continuously difficult to get any technical climbing done. However, in weather and conditions like we had in the Northwest this weekend, its hard to complain too much…