Craig and Mark headed early for some rock time in the Coe on Saturday and travelled light and fast (ish) up to the Rannoch Wall. Hardest moves of the day were getting across the hard snow pack in easy gully requiring careful step kicking and a light touch...didn't fancy a long slide down to the Great Water Slab!
Quick bite and Craig was off up the first two pitches of Agag's in the sun with the 60m ropes...just makes it and no more, with a bit of drag! Mark took the lead on three and four with a pleasant hanging belay, as always, on pitch 3-4.
Once at the top, we ditched the bags, thinking we might walk off the summit, and ab'ed down from the top of January Jigsaw. Some kind soul has left a size 10 nut to lock the ab tat in place with a very helpful piece of pulling tat locking it in situ...well thought out may I say.
We only got down to the midway stance as a three were climbing JJ. Quick sort of the ropes and Mark was off up the first pitch to the Haven and an uncomfortable belay; I'm not sure we have ever climbed the third pitch the same way!
Quick switch and Craig was off up the final short pitch moving right off the belay on steep ground but good holds, eventually... Moving back left on lovely ground then all of a sudden we were at the top. Decision was made to ab back down and wait for the trio below to finish the route.
They moved fast and before we knew it, the 60m ropes came into their own and we made a full abseil down to just 6ft short of solid ground. Abseiling off the rope onto good holds and a very short down climb finished a great introduction to this summer's rock season.
Last bite and water of the day and we were off down Curved Ridge and back to the car in wonderful sunshine. Amazingly, the trio below us had ice climbed on the Ben the day previously and wanted a change on to rock before going home to Sheffield...pretty certain they had a good few days.
All in, a brilliant day; brilliant routes; warm rock...what's not to love about Scotland and its rock...Simply Epic indeed.
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