Tower Ridge & SW Ridge, Ben Nevis

Not both today I should add!  Yesterday, I was out with Malcolm and Gill on Tower Ridge.  Fresh overnight snows had transformed large sections of  the ridge into a beautifully sharp crest of snow, which whilst very pretty, was hard work, as much of the snow was unconsolidated.

For Malcolm and Gill, it was a step up from anything they had done on Ben Nevis previously, but they took it in their stride, and enjoyed the full winter experience up there.  Visibility was quite poor for much of the day, but we did spot tracks up and around Tower Scoop.  Voices also heard from around The White Line area.

Today, I was out with Justin, and having driven to look at Buachaille Etive Mor, which was black as the ace of spades (every other surrounding hill had plenty of snow), we hot footed back to Ben Nevis, where we climbed the SW Ridge of the Douglas Boulder, which was still holding a good amount of snow.  It was Justin’s first taste of using his tools in amongst rock, rather than ice, which took a bit of getting used to.  We saw a number of substantial sluffs cascading down Vanishing Gully and surrounding routes.

 

Hannah was also exploring Ben Nevis, with Harry.  They headed up towards Carn Dearg Meadhonach, before skiing into the corrie just north of the East Ridge, before climbing back up the East Ridge, which they reported to be excellent, and following the Carn Mor Dearg Arête round, dropping into Coire Leis, only finally taking their skis off at the CIC Hut.