GMC 2025 Scotland Winter Trip
By Jeremy Norwood
Like 2024, we jammed the weather with the big thaw a few weeks before our trip being addressed with suitable snow coverage and some colder spells.
Day 1 (Friday 28 Feb) – We split into two groups with Pete leading a group (Connor, Rob and Sergii) to the Cairngorms for a selection of grade S-I/II to practice some core winter skills. Paul, Mark, Alan and I headed straight from the lodge to Ben Nevis to tackle Ledge Route (S-II) which once you’ve found the ramp at the entrance to Number Five Gully (see below!) is pretty straight forward and a cracking route.
Day 2 (Saturday 01 Mar) – All of us headed to Aonach Mor, catching the climbers gondola and hiking up the west side of the mountain in pretty lean conditions which thankfully improved as we climbed higher to the base of the ribs. Pete, Connor, Alan, Sergii, Rob and I opted to tackle Golden Oldie (S-II), which some of us have history with from 2024! Paul and Mark headed further south looking to do Solitaire (S-II) but decided they wanted to compete for the “GMC Aonach Mor Epic Award” and by mistake ended up on Daim Buttress (S-III). Not knowing they were on the wrong ridge, trying to follow the incorrect Rockfax description made the route very challenging as they gingerly picked their way up the face and got back to the car 14.5hrs later!
Rob taking a well-deserved breather on Golden Oldie.
Day 3 (Sunday 02 Mar) – We split the group up again with Paul and Mark opting for a quieter rest day, whilst Pete, Connor, Segii and Rob headed to Ledge Route on Ben Nevis (which unfortunately they didn’t quite find the start at the bottom of Number Five Gully after the walk in!). Alan and I head to Buachaille Etive Mor to do Curved Ridge (S-II/S-III) which despite the lean and precarious conditions in the chimney-gully section was an awesome route.
Alan on Curved Ridge with Rannoch Wall in the background.
Day 4 (Monday 03 Mar) – Not wanting to let the classic Ledge Route elude them, Pete, Connor, Segii and Rob headed back and successfully found the ramp at the start. They were joined by James and Ben (who were on a separate trip), not suggesting this is the reason they were successful this time! Paul, Mark, Alan and I headed up the Glen Nevis Valley and did a section of the Ring of Steall which included the Devil’s Ridge and Sgurr a’Mhaim. Despite the low cloud and poor visibility in sections it was another fantastic route.
