Royal Pardon, Aonach Beag

Ken: With winter climbing conditions still being excellent, and work quietening down a bit, Steve and I thought that we would make the most of it, and get some ice climbing done for ourselves. With the lure of a gondola assisted approach, we made our way to the North Face of Aonach Beag, where we climbed the brilliant Royal Pardon.

Stand and Deliver looked excellent as we passed beneath it (a team climbed it today). Steve led the first pitch of variable ice, up to a large block belay, to the left of the main ice smear. I then led the crux pitch, which was thick enough, and better on the steeper sections. I don’t think that the weather gods were looking down on me too favourably today, for I seemed to spend much of the pitch getting pummelled by spindrift, which then amazingly cleared as Steve led the final couple of pitches, which included an excellent pitch of good quality ice before the ground eased off.

Nice to get out and make the most of what is fast becoming a season to remember!