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After the harshest winter for decades, has spring finally arrived? With daffodils starting to bloom in the meadow and the snow melting, perhaps now is a good time to look back on a remarkable three months in Glencoe.
The first major snowfall of the winter came just before Christmas, and was followed by Scotland's coldest January since 1914. The snow remained on the ground on Rannoch Moor for almost 100 days, which meant the best season for skiing at White Corries for years. It came as a bit of surprise one day in late February when the BBC reported Glencoe ski centre as the "world's snowiest"! 
It was good news for winter climbers too. Conditions were consistently good for almost three months, with several first ascents taking place in Glencoe. New ice routes were even climbed on the crags just above the Inn! Nice to see that none of it was wasted on Clachaig staff either, who were often out enjoying the snow, climbing, hill-walking and even snow-boating during theirbreaks from work. You know it's a real winter when the staff are cutting steps in the snow with ice-axes in order to walk the 30 yards to work in the morning.
It hasn't been all fun and games though; several huge avalanches occurred in Glencoe between January and March, one of which could be seen all too clearly from the windows of the Lounge bar in the Clachaig. Even after the rapid thaw and heavy rain of the last few days, the remains of the avalanche debris can still be very clearly seen.
So three months and several hundred burned logs later, winter appears to be finally coming to a close. Easter is almost behind us, but with the May Beer Festival not too far away, a change of pace and the summer are just around the corner.
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