18-03-12, Ben Nevis - Winter Climbing

Stephen emerging from the ice cave pitch on Gardyloo Gully

Stephen and David were very keen to do some winter climbing, particularly on Ben Nevis, as the Cairngorms and Mont Blanc were the only places they had been before. That was just as well as Ben Nevis is home to the hand full of existing ice routes left in Scotland at the moment. It is Sunday so car park was fairly busy but not completely rammed as you may expect for a glorious weekend day. Observatory gully was a busy place as to be expected, the usual 3 teams were insitu on Tower Scoop, a few teams on Good Friday climb, and several teams soloed up Gardyloo Gully ahead of us. Good hard snow with a dusting of new down to the base of Douglas boulder. The guys enjoyed the day and were pleasantly surprised to get some caving done as well!

Tower Scoop, Observatory Gully

Gardyloo Gully

Gardyloo Gully ice cave pitch - class.

Apprehensive of the cave.