Cold air swept down over Scotland on Wednesday night so we woke up to a dusting of fresh snow above 700m yesterday morning. Kev, Carl, Ian and I stuck with the plan of going up the Zig-Zags and along Gearr Aonach to Stob Coire nan Lochan, Bidean nam Bian and back down the Lost Valley but we made sure we had ice axes with us. The fresh snow started at the foot of the NE Ridge of Stob Coire nan Lochan and there were patches of old snow on the way up. There was lots of old snow on the N Ridge of Bidean which is still in a very impressive crest for quite a long way. In the colder air this snow had firmed up and plenty of kicking and cutting was required to get up!
Dropping down into the Lost Valley always involves a steep slope at the col but with so much spring snow we were very glad to have the rope again. Another stomper belay and a lower got us all down for another great glissade down to the excellent path in The Lost Valley. This was a brilliant day again, classic Glen Coe mountaineering. It will be cold for a few days so make sure you have your ice axe and crampons with you.
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