Soft ice on Last Post.

The long walk in to Creag Meagaidh is made easier by the lovely path and the trees you walk through in the lower part of the coire. SNH has been keeping the deer density lower here than in most estates for a couple of decades in order that the trees, heather and everything else growing in the ground can regenerate. It seems to be working well, is great for better biodiversity and is very nice to see. It's still a long walk in though! 

The Post Face is home to some very nice ice climbs. It's a big turfy crag with fairly poor rock and lots of water running down the gullies and grooves. In the cold weather we had recently the ice on Last Post grew to be very fat and it gave David and me an excellent climb today. It was a bit warmer last night and it did not properly cool down today so the ice was soft and friendly generally but also a bit cruddy hollow in places. 

We climbed the first icefall in one long pitch of about 55m. This is the crux of the whole climb and it feel like quite a long way today! The next two pitches also have fun ice climbing before a snow slope finish with lots of spindrift at the top. If this is the kind of route you aspire to lead we can help - we have on elast place on our Performance Winter Climbing Workshop. Get in touch if you would like to get some top coaching in steep ice and mixed climbing as well as a day of climbing on a nice (hard) route!

We had the full Scottish experience today - long walk in, long steep route, plenty of spindrift, white out on top demanding careful navigation - just brilliant!