No snow on the East Ridge of the North Top, Stob Ban

Ken: For Sebastian’s final day, we braved the rain and made our way up to the East Ridge of the North Top of Stob Ban. Fortunately, the rains eased during the morning, and our ascent of the East Ridge was a pleasant affair, with clear views to the summits of the surrounding Munros.

The ridge is mostly climbed during the winter, when cloaked with snow, however, it does give a reasonable summer scramble, if a bit vegetated in places. With clear skies and calm winds as well as the expansive views and fantastic situations, Seb and I enjoyed the route, and took in the summit of Stob Ban as well. The snow on the final section of the north ridge was still fairly firm, but mostly avoidable.

Rather than descending the steepest part of the north ridge, we opted to bum-slide from the west ridge of the Central Top, down into Coire an Lochain. I have been working for Peak Mountaineering for the past three days.