free counter with statistics

Outdoor Capital Launch
© Graeme Haynes


Outdoor Capital of the UK Blog

Want to know the latest about your favourite outdoor activities? Get an inside look at what's happening in Lochaber with our blog.


Snowy walks

Monday, March 31, 2008


Spring is in the air down in the glens, and with the evenings drawing out it is a great time to get out. However up on the hills climbing and ski-ing conditions are good with conditions still being pretty wintery.

Friends climbed Hidden Chimney over in the Cairngorms on Saturday, they reported it was wild on top but the climb was in nick. Jane from the Outdoor Capital ski-ed at Nevis Range on Saturday, visibility deteriorated later in the afternoon but the snow got better and better as the day went on.

On Sunday 30th March I walked along the ridge on the north side of Loch Leven with a friend, Hilda. Parking at a layby near Callert Cottage we walked back into Kinlochleven taking in Mam na Gualainn and Beinn na Caillich. This is a great walk, not quite so comitting as some of the higher mountains(you climb to just under 800 metres) we took, but didn't need ice axes, but it was pretty snowy so we were glad we had warm kit. This walk gives fantastic views of the mountains in Glencoe, the Mamores, and through to the sea and is really worth doing - you get great views for not so much climbing. Descending we joined the West Highland Way and walked into Kinlochleven.

For more info on the Glencoe and Loch Leven area of Lochaber, ideas of where to stay and things to do visit the regional pages on the Outdoor Capital site.
Hilda's boyfriend did Hadrian's Wall on Ben Nevis on Sunday and had great day too. See Abacus Mountaineering's site for more info on current climbing conditions.
Anna

posted by ocuk @ 10:04 AM  0 comments

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Skiing is for everyone!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Get a load of local lad Drew Coupland carving up the slopes with his brother Keir and cousins Alice and Ruraidh at Nevis Range, Fort William yesterday. This was Drew's first time skiing - using a cool 'sit ski', with help from a trained Nevis Range guide. When there's fun to be had there's no stopping that boy! Drew loved skiing and can't wait to get up there again.



If you're a wheelchair-user or have restricted mobility and want to get out on the slopes, why not give the sit-ski a try? Nevis Range can supply the equipment and qualified guide. Drew would highly recommend it!

Labels: , , ,

posted by ocuk @ 11:24 AM  1 comments

1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

absolutely fab,I've watched this three times !Will be watching again!

11:26 PM  

Post a Comment

Cold Climbs in the Outdoor Capital

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Right Edge, in the Lost Valley, Glencoe


On Ledge Route, Ben Nevis

An early Easter and wintry weather from the north meant the Outdoor Capital was packed with snowboarders, skiers, climbers, walkers and all kinds of visitosr all making the most of the cold spell and the long weekend.

Here at the Outdoor Capital office staff got out into the great outdoors. Some took friends and family sledging at Nevis Range, others went ski-ing and reported good conditions on Aonach Mor with the back corries open too.

I went climbing. On Friday we did the first pitch of Right Edge in the Lost Valleyin Glencoe, and then on Saturday we did Ledge Route on Ben Nevis . Saturdays weather was great and conditions were perfect. We met Dave Macleod on the way up to the CIC hut - he looked pretty fresh considering his amazing repeat earlier in the week with local film-maker Jo French, on 'Don't Die of Ignorance' . See our news page for a full update on that or go the Sunday Herald article.

Anna

Labels: , , , ,

posted by ocuk @ 11:38 AM  0 comments

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Family fun in the snow


You didn't have to be on skis or a board to enjoy the lovely Easter snow this weekend - Nevis Range had their busiest weekend of the year, with over 2,500 people up enjoying the snow - even if they didn't have full-on snowsports in mind.


Whether trying out exploring on snow-shoes, admiring the fabulous snow-peaked views from the restaurant at the top of the hill, building snowmen or whizzing about on sledges, there was a fantastic family atmosphere with something for even the youngest of snow enthusiasts. We had friends up visiting with 3 wee nippers under 5 and they had an absolute ball up the hill...when we let them have a turn on the sledge!








Labels: , ,

posted by ocuk @ 11:34 AM  0 comments

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Easter on the slopes...

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Steve with Carn Mor Dearg and Ben Nevis lurking behind, 15 March


If sitting around waiting for the Easter Bunny to come isn't your idea of an exciting Easter holiday weekend, why not head up to the Outdoor Capital of the UK for some fantastic spring skiing and boarding at Nevis Range, outside Fort William. We popped up for a few hours at the weekend and it was lovely... we stuck to the main Summit Run and the Goose but the back corries were looking fab too (as pics below show).




Boarder in the back corries, 16 March



Weather conditions for the long Easter weekend look pretty good, with Saturday and Monday shaping up to be ideal ski days, with dry days and low winds.
Have a look at http://www.nevisrange.co.uk/ for latest news, conditions and live web cams of the slopes and check out the conditions on the go, with snow reports direct to your mobile at http://winterhighland.com/




Labels: , , ,

posted by ocuk @ 10:20 AM  0 comments

0 Comments:

Post a Comment