I’ve just spent an excellent weekend based in Fort William with Rachel and Sabine.
![Tower Ridge in early morning light](http://www.climbnow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/P1014339CN1-250x187.jpg)
On Saturday we had an early start to walk up to Ben Nevis and climb Tower Ridge in time to be off the ridge and summit well before the forecast thunder storms.
![Sabine and Rachel just above The Douglas Boulder](http://www.climbnow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/P1014341CN2-250x333.jpg)
The thunder storms never appeared as they tracked further East, but we did have the best of the weather on the day, only encountering cloud on the upper part of the ridge and some light showers on the way down.
![In cloud above the through-route on the Great Tower](http://www.climbnow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/P1014351CN3-250x187.jpg)
Today we were out in Glen Coe climbing Barn Wall Route on the East Face of Aonach Dubh. After the overnight rain and early low cloud the rock was initially very wet, but dried with height and rising cloud levels. The route gives a good long climb at the grade, but is fairly sparse on protection.
![Which way? High on Barn Wall Route](http://www.climbnow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/P1014367CN5-250x333.jpg)
We then headed up to the summit of Aonach Dubh before traversing underneath Stob Coire nan Lochan and descending Gearr Aonach and The Zig-Zags.
![Gearr Aonach](http://www.climbnow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/P1014377CN6-250x333.jpg)