Up to Nethy House for the weekend in the Cairngorms. Got up there quite quickly, thanks to a ride from one of Dave’s other mates from Blackburn way. Caught up with people in the bar, managed to get shot of a firmin of Sheepshaggers pretty quickly, then crashed at about 01:30 ish, as we had plans for the following day.
The normal ‘urghhhhh’ started the day at 07:00 – the first morning after the drive up there is always a killer. Ate scran, then did some minor faffing and jumped into the cars. The snow was down to valley level still, so no suprise that the Cas car part was full, but they’d only just started in the Ciste, made we could jump onto the bus easily & ride to the day lodge. Most were off skiing, but Dave, me, and a couple of others decided to climb. Avalanche considerable on some slopes, so we mused on routes before picking Schnechda and starting the slog in.
I’d forgotten what a full winter pack feels like. Too many times having punters to carry the load makes you weak!
Got to the headwall. Andy & I headed up for Fingers Ridge, whilst the others went to Mess in Porridge.
Having only been dragged up a grade 3/4 (Invernookie) by Dave about 3 years before, I was quite excited about the notion of doing a grade 4 route. I had no idea whether I’d get up it or not, how I’d feel etc. Due to queues, we started up Broken Gully for a pitch. I let that, some good grade 3 ice and brought up Andy. He swung the next lead, dealing with a tricky corner that required some carefull & delicate footwork & axe placements – quite glad that he led that one! However, found it straightforward so I led the next and final pitch, past the fingers (torque torque) and up the iced up steep wall afterwards. Awesome. Fantastic position, great neve – great moves. Very happy with that grade climbing – looking forward to climbing with Angry Stu on the Ben before the wedding now!
We got off the mountain & met the others later in the day lodge, then back to the house for showers and a very passable Haggis, neeps & tatties. We then tried to get drunk, which kinda worked but the late night, short sleep, big day on the hill & mid-pm gluweiin didn’t help matters, and I was falling asleep (with others too I should point out) from about 11pm onwards. Dave managed to find his second wind though, and through a booze-laden game of Trivial pursuits managed to get pretty stoked. After collapsing in bed & do remember being shaken awake by a wild eyed Dave at 0530 insisting that we needed to get up and start drinking again. Managed to (somehow) stay in the bed & then only got rewoken as he staggered to bed an hour or so later, bouncing off furniture in the room.
Up at 8:30, on the road by 9 and home by 2:45 to sort out District Camp, sort kit & chill for a bit. Need it as off to Dave Matthews gig tonight in Manchester!
Mar 07 2010