Wednesday 21 January 2015

More boring beauty-Western Rib

Claire hit the weather right with her three days this year!
After Golden Oldy last winter she fancied the idea of revisiting the same face but on a slightly harder route so she, Jamie and I hit the first gondola and were soon making good progress round to the west side of Aonach  Mor. The walk in was pretty quick today and the now well worn trail only partially blown in. The route was a little powdery to start but the weather was once again awesome!
After a few good pitches of climbing we ditched an axe, switched to mountaineering mode and upped the pace with a promise of a drink in the Nevis Range bar. Those views and a beer made a great end to Claire's 3 days mountaineering. I reckon the legs will be glad of a break after 3 big routes too!

No-one else on the Summit Ribs today (although there was a soloist in one of the Gullies). A team headed onto the East Ridge of Carn Dearg Mheadhonach and climbers were on Stand and Deliver and routes on the W Face of Aonach Beag. On the Ben Point 5, Vanishing Gully, Hadrians Direct and the Curtain were all climbed and I have a report of superb conditions on Pinnacle Ridge on Sgurr Nan Gillean. Finally, I've just seen photos of Ben Udhlaidh and it is 'in'! Winter is shaping up nicely…

 The summit ribs
Pitch 2
 Great fun climbing
 Amazing views
 Stunning weather
 What's not to like?
 Think thin thoughts and squirm!
 A change of pace
 Warm work
 Getting higher
 Nearly there
 Weather approaching Ben Nevis
 The sunny summit plateau
A Devil of a Ridge
More boring beauty!

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