Jon in July
The Aonach Eagach, Glen Coe
Great weather (mostly) over the last month and lots of hill –time working on all kinds of training course, guided walks, scrambles and rock climbs throughout the Trossachs and beyond. My Scottish Suntan has started to come back leaving me with a tanned face but white everywhere else as I keep covered to avoid the midges!
There is nothing like a traverse of the Aonach Eagach in Glen Coe in blue skies and sunshine. The traverse will go in most conditions but when it’s like this it’s truly amazing and it’s easy to see why the traverse gets its iconic reputation. Clients on this trip said what many have said to me before ‘I’m really glad I did that and while it wasn’t all too hard really I am really glad that I did it with a guide’ I’ve guided the ridge many times and know it well. If you’re looking for a guide or just for some advice let me know.
The development project for the climbing wall at McLaren Community Leisure Centre has been going well and phase one is now complete. Go and have a look of you live locally, see if you can spot the obvious construction changes and let me know how you get on with the new routes and problems that have been set.
Jon’s walk (scramble!) of the week: (or anything else in GlenCoe)
OK so the observant ones among you will know that the Aonach Eagach is a graded scramble (Grade 2-3) but since you’ve just seen some photos and I’ve already talked about it then I thought I had better mention it. If you’re not up for a scramble or think it’s a bit beyond you at the moment there are plenty of other Munro’s in Glen Coe and it’s well worth a visit soon!
Any good guide book of Glen Coe will tell you about the Aonach Eadach traverse and there is lot of information out there that you can find. For me it’s one of the best ridge scrambles in Scotland outside of the Isle of Skye, with continuous interest and fantastic views. Usually my clients are on and off the rope at different places along the ridge. Much of it is fairly amenable with interesting rocky steps up and down (these become difficult when wet and greasy). The ascent up Am Bodach is steep and can take a while – take your time and enjoy the views. Most of my clients find the descent from Am Bodach difficult or at least intimidating and then again find the infamous pinnacle section between Meall Dearg and Stob Coire Leith both difficult and intimidating – definitely not a place to fall off! Descend from Sgorr nam Fiannaidh either directly south into the Glen or via the col to the south of the Pap of Glen Coe. Lots of orchids out in the Glen at the moment and definitely worth taking the time to look at them properly.