03-03-14, Coire an t-Sneachda, Cairngorms - Winter Climbing

 Today I was in Coire an t-Sneachda with James and Daniel who are on a week long learn to winter lead climb course at Glenmore Lodge. First day, so shake off the cobwebs and a refresher on all things climbing - safe approach, get ropes out, build belays, go upwards, place runners, build more belays. They have both done some trad rock climbing so it should be a quick winter-isation of other winter specific gear placements and art of skillful digging to find runners. We climbed a mixed line to the right of Fiaciall Buttress in 3 pitches, up to grade IV. There was some good chat about avalanche awareness and conditions of routes, mixed climbing techniques to ascend, some fundamental belay and anchor practice as well as some peg placements. The weather was fabulous today, hardly any wind, slightly warm, all in all very pleasant.