Still Snowing on the Tops

This morning looking into the North Face of Ben Nevis


Plenty of deep snow around and it's still falling. All of my courses are visiting ridges and buttresses just now to avoid the obvious avalanche hazard in the gullies, bowls and open snow slopes. Even with a serious avalanche risk, good route choice can provide enjoyable days out. One group is off today to climb on the area just right of Douglas Gap Gully West on Ben Nevis. This provides decent climbing at a grade of around II/III. The approach is made close up against the Douglas Boulder, where rock belays can protect the big slope below. The descent into the lower confines of Observatory Gully on the east side of Tower Ridge is by abseil or simple down climbing at grade I/II.

Looks like a mild spell on the way soon.