Ben Nevis Water Ice

Today I was working for Jagged Globe on the Winter Mountaineering course. The aim of today was to find some ice to climb, a relatively easy objective given the great conditions.

We headed up to Ben Nevis to play on the ice pitches below Carn Derag. Ther

e are a variety of 40 -50m lines of varying grades. After a bit of ice bouldering we headed up a 2 pitch grade III route. We then continued coaching on both ice and short rock steps as we headed back down the path.

If it wasn't for the drive up the (icy) track it would of been a relaxed day in the sun.

Although the higher routes look white the still need a fair few freeze thaw cycles with ice being scarce and the Orion face looking thin. Other teams out on Observatory Ridge and NE Buttress.

Photos of the North Face from the upper car park (above) and Carn Derag / Castle Gully Area.