Team hit on Vanishing Gully

Ken: The winds continued to blow through the night and into today, but rather than clear skies, which we’ve been enjoying recently, today was much cloudier, giving Ben Nevis a far more serious feel. For the final day of our CIC Hut Week, I took Pete and Ivo into the gulch, which sits below the west flank of Tower Ridge, and set up a top-rope on a brilliant pitch of grade III ice, so that Ivo could have a go leading the pitch, with a top-rope attached. The gulch was well protected from the strongest gusts.

Above us, Niels took Meirion up Vanishing Gully. This was Meirion’s first grade V route, so a great way to finish his five days up here. We then followed Niels and Meirion, by also making an ascent of Vanishing Gully. The crux pitch, whilst steep, has great hooks and footholds all the way up the steepest section. The peg belay, however, is not so great, and definitely needs backing up with ice screws.

It’s been a great week up at the hut, and despite some rather windy conditions, we’ve managed to duck and dive and have climbed some interesting routes, both classic and esoteric, all over the mountain. A huge thanks to Graham, Ivo, Pete, Meirion and Niels for putting in heaps of effort and enthusiasm throughout the week!