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Gmburns2000
Jan 19, 2013, 11:44 PM
Post #3 of 4
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Registered: Mar 6, 2007
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Kartessa's link doesn't work, but all the best to the families of the deceased. Glencoe is a popular climbing area, both in winter and summer, but there's an expression that many use to say they climb in the Alps to prepare for the Bens; a damn tragedy.
From the Scotsman: Article
Fingers are crossed...
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SWclimber
Jan 20, 2013, 3:17 AM
Post #4 of 4
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Registered: Jan 20, 2013
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Some factual background information:
1:25,000 map of area showing approximate location of incident - http://www.streetmap.co.uk/...00&A=Y&Z=115
The relevant SAIS report available online - http://www.sais.gov.uk/...archive2.asp?id=3395
The relevant snow profile available online - http://www.sais.gov.uk/...e_flash.asp?id=11282
Extract from page 98 of the SMC Scottish Winter Climbs (2008) guidebook which makes specific mention of the incident area as a potential descent route for 'Bidean nam Bian - West' [listed as route (i)] along with a warning that another route is far safer in 'dangerous snow conditions':
Descent:
(i) Carefully beneath Church Door Buttress from the col between Bidean nam Bian and its West Top.
(ii) The north-east ridge to the col (NN 146 545) between Bidean nam Bian and Stob Coire nan Lochan, then down into Coir nam Beith.
(iii) From the col (NN 140 543) between the West Top and Stob Coire nam Beith, then beneath the cliffs of the West Top into the corrie.
(iv) Continue over Stob Coire nam Beith and go down its west ridge to the col at the Bealach An t'Sron (NN 135 547) where easy slopes lead into the corrie. In dangerous snow conditions this alternative is by far the safest. In poor visibility refer to the more detailed description give on p94.
The current SMC Glencoe guidebook has the same information, almost word for word. I have not yet confirmed what, if anything, is written about the incident area as a descent route, either in older SMC guidebooks or in the current or previous versions of the alternative Cicerone climbing guidebook.
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