Out today in the North-East coire of Ben an Dothaidh with Pamela. One other party headed for the obvious choice of West Buttress (but chose to do a line further right). We headed up a possible new line through the crags on the right of Emel Ridge at about III,3 to join Emel Ridge (II) after about 80m. The line started circa 150m up from the base of Emel ridge and climbed a slabby corner with regular turf ledges to a belay in a roofed crack. This was followed by a leftwards traverse on flakes to gain a stepped groove leading to easier ground and Emel Ridge.
The turf was well frozen. Snow cover started thinly from the coire floor (very little on the Femme Fatale area), but the major gullies and the upper section of Emel ridge had a good cover of firm snow. Ice is forming. Below freezing at crag height all day. Fresh north-west wind and no significant snow fall on the hill before 4pm.
