Aladdins Couloir

Back in to Sneachda today. The  original plan had been to have a mountain day designed to let M put into practice the skills we've been working on - but unfortunately a combination of fatigue and a recurrent bad back meant that by the time we reached the Coire floor he was done in & wisely chose to return to the sanctuary of the ski station. Full points for trying.

That meant that M2 & I were now in the Coire  needing to devise a new plan - with little technical climbing equipment with us (t'wasn't in the original plan) anything on the cliffs was sadly not realistic - but a quick consult and we realised that neither of us had ever done one of the most famous 'easy' climbs in the Gorms - Alladins Couloir - a classic Grade I dog-legged snow gully. For most of this season its been effectively out of bounds due to the prevalent avalanche conditions - but in the last couple off days that's changed dramatically and today it was in near perfect (lol - for Scotland) nick.
We'd made really good time into Sneachda - so kitting up quick we managed to be the first climbing team on to the route - & with both of us happy to solo it (no need for ropes) it made for great progress - we were able to grab lunch on the plateau - say "Hi" to the next team up - and then make our way down the Goat Track to go find M & with one of the three C's* complete - head into Aviemore for the other two.

Extra is courtesy of YM - I like the contrast & scale it gives to my blip.

*Climb, Coffee & Cake.

Edit; & so to Philosophy Friday;
"Because in the end you won't remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn; Climb the Goddamn Mountain!"
Jack Kerouak