Another season of work and play at an end for me. 'Summer work' for the foreseeable future and a little family time. The usual mix of weather and conditions with a grim start to the season but the usual possibilities for climbing and mountaineering, teaching and learning nonetheless.
Claire and I decided our winters should go out with a nice big day.
We took the Nevis Range gondola up Aonach Mor and dropped down into the Allt Daim. There was more snow than yesterday and the plod up the glen turned into a tough trail break up soft snow slopes onto the East Ridge of Carn Dearg Mheadhonach. From here we headed round the Carn Mor Dearg Arete and up Ben Nevis. Then we took the pony track all the way down to the Ben Nevis Inn for a well earn beer.
We met some lads who had been into Coire na Ciste but decided the snowpack wasn't safe for what they wanted to do. Nice to meet people making safe decisions not everyone has been taking such care this weekend although they seem to have gotten away with it.
Now its time for a steak, a hot bath, a pint of G and T (liquids are rarely worth consuming in quantities smaller than a pint I find) and a shave. I'm looking forward to some work with staff at the new climbing wall in Fort William, some time on Skye, plenty of Lochaber scrambling and rock climbing too. Bring it on!!
The Allt Daim and the route ahead
Hot work...
...and the odd shower
Near the top of the E Ridge of Carn Deag Mheadhoanch
A snowy Ben Nevis teasing us with a view
On the Arete
A full day out for us both
My winter's over- off with the beard!
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