Inspired by a photo on UKC (http://www.ukclimbing.com/images/dbpage.html?id=78797) Jamie B suggested a trip to Ben Starav so he, Will, Henry and I made the long walk n this morning and it was well worth it. We had a stunning clear day and although the route looks pretty alpine compared to Saturday it was great (Jamie B '11 out of 10', Henry 'bestwinter route I've done'). We had plenty of bomber turf and firm snow ice and. Jamie and Will started up a line on the left and traversed in to join us at the top of our first pitch. The route gave a good vareity of climbing with a nice groove with a bulges low down, a nice wall for the crux and the pinnacles were just great fun - every time you reached out an axe it hooked into a perfect crack or over an edge. Highly recommended. We carried on over the top of Ben Starav and made it back to the car without reaching for headtorches.
Hey Al! good to see some traffic on this route, i did a somewhat desperate variation start on the right gully wall to join the original route below the crux wall. treat the guide grade with caution ;-)
ReplyDeletedid you walk straight up to the coire from the glen? bloody brutal!! we should get a route done this season. Eckie B