14.01.2013 - Stob Coire Sgreamhach North East Ridge II

Today was supposed to be an easy day taking a look at how conditions were developing in Glencoe after quite a lot of recent snowfall.  We decided to do one of the less popular routes on Stob Coire Sgreamhach, the North East Ridge graded at II.  Starting at the car park at the Lairig Eilde, Craig and I made our way up the decent foot path used to approach either Buachaille etive Beag or Sron na Lairig. After crossing the stream we headed up an obvious ramp on the very tip of the NE Ridge, we soon became aware that there was a lot of powder on the ground and made fair progress up and along the ridge. It snowed continually throughout the day and I even triggered a very small powder avalanche at the bad step.  To sum the day up, I'd say, Constantly swimming through deep powder, stingy spindrifty sometimes strong ish winds but on occasion we were treated with good views however brief.  We descended back down towards and through the Lairig Eilde, past the top of what looked like a busy Sron na Lairig.

A very atmospheric Beinn a' Chrulaiste 

Looking ahead to a distant Stob Coire Sgreamhach

Craig enjoying a relatively powder free section by comparison 

looking back along the ridge

Looking over to Sron na Lairig

a brief clearing whilst looking back

The Lairig Eilde 

Sron na Lairig