1st February 2013 - CMD failure!

Low cloud, no views today!

Looking white higher up. Those clouds were shiftng!

Davies face says it all....shite!

 So with the weather forecast singing about light winds, 70% chance of cloud free munros and a good freezing level, Davie and I decided for a lightening assault on the CMD. Due to recent weather patterns, snow fall and gale force SW winds our plans of Gardyloo Gully or Glovers Chimney were set aside for a more appropriate day!

I picked Davie up at the North Face car park and we headed on up in my car to the top car park. Mike Pescod was out with a client attempting the Douglas boulder and Tower Ridge traverse and made a hasty start while we were kitting up. Soon, though we were on our way along the CIC path, veering off promptly to start our way up the long slog to the top.

We made good time, and hit the snow line quite quickly, but it still felt like it was taking forever. On top of this, the wind seemed to be relentless, and visibility was pretty poor too. We ground onwards, coming across a team of three who had opted to back off (a good choice as they were unsure of the route and its consequences) no doubt at the sound advice of their wee mascot, Rodger the Badger!!!

On we went, as visibility decreased and wind speeds increased until we came across another group of lads putting crampons on. They were in two minds about the route, and by this point so were we but we opted to get to the summit of CMD and see how things were going before making a choice. A soft powder cornice had built up to our left so we were very aware of where we were going. On the summit of CMD we donned crampons, and deemed a traverse of the ridge an unneccesary risk and turned back. Its a good thing we did, as we came across the foursome again having some difficulty with a set of crampons (B1 boots, C3 crampons - they were never designed to fit). Davie and I had a good chat to them while we fixed the crampons temporarily with some of my tie tags in order to get them safely down before setting off ahead of them.

We made good progress and as always there was lots of banter and chat, until we were disrupted by someone behind us screaming, and a dog ahead of us howling (not making this up). So I went Rolf Harris style but couldnt persuade the dog to come to us (the screams behind were shouting its name) but found out later that they had recovered the mutt safely.

Safely back at the cars, we reflected on a good but short jaunt up CMD in poor conditions and we knew we had made the right choice not proceeding with the arete. Weather looking better tomorrow, Aonach Eagagh on the cards...