Val di Lagan winter sports resort
With temperatures forecast to soar into double figures the following day it seemed that everyone wanted to get out on Wednesday. We were worried winter would come to an abrupt end but it hasn’t; we’ve more fresh snow down to 500m today, Sunday, with plenty of old snow on easterly aspects in particular.
Laden with snowboards, skis and climbing kit our team made “steady” progress but nobody minded with the warm spring sunshine on the face.
Snow conditions were a wee bit “lively” but we eventually made it to the cave half-way up the Great Stone Shoot. It was a lovely day for a walk but we were a bit shocked to have a couple of French tourists in jeans & trainers join us! We assured them it wasn’t the voie normal so they gaily scooted off down again without a care in the world.
Angus opted for an extended rest so we had to miss his boarding but you can look it up on facebook.
Snow cover was very limited and it really doesn’t show the steepness but, wow, what an arena to play in!
Short on time we opted for Diedre Blanc again with Beads & Icky enjoying the lead.
In December I suggested it may be IV,4 but with a thick coat of ice blocking both placements and protection the top pitch definitely felt worthy of its original grade V. Placements may have been blocked but the snow and ice was in superb condition which made the climbing feel a lot closer to traditional winter than modern mixed.
A long abseil took us back to the sacks (well nearly:-) Icky’s just below the skyline here-
before a traditional bumslide descent for me. Icky grabbed his skis from the cave and made an olympic standard descent with axes jangling like swiss cow bells.
Things were warming up all day and, as well as some friendly red deer, we even spotted the first lamb of the season.
