Up on Ben Nevis with John and a Falkirk Team of Gary, Graeme, Ian, Linda, Nigel and Pamela for the last three days. On Monday we walked in and one party climbed Central Gully Creag Coire na Ciste on good stepped ice, one party climbed Central Gully Right Hand on good thick ice and one pair climbed Number Three Gully. All descended Number Four Gully, which has a good slot through the cornice.
On Tuesday two parties climbed Glover’s Chimney, which was in excellent condition with good ice on the first pitch and great mixed climbing to Tower Gap, from where they finished up the ridge. The other pair climbed Green Gully reporting good ice.
Short day today, so one party climbed the first two pitches of Italian Climb before abseiling off; the ice being climbable, but not taking worthwhile screws. Another pair climbed Garadh Gully, which currently requires some care with bergschrunds and holes where snow bridges have collapsed. The third party went for a wander up in to Observatory Gully to familiarise themselves for future visits.
Fairly warm today after an overnight frost with the lower routes suffering a little. Above the level of the top of Garadh Gully the snow was much firmer and the snow and ice seemed to be holding up well. No significant precipitation over the last three days, winds have generally been south-westerly and no obvious large avalanche activity since the warm period last week.
