Back from the spring-like south Andy and I headed straight for the Big Bad Ben - my first visit this year. Unfortunately the track is competely impassable so it meant a walk from the sit-down start in the North Face carpark.
Another beautiful day and the snow conditions are perfect so Andy decided we should go and do Minus 2 Gully (V,5). It was a busy day on the Ben but we arrived at the bottom to find a team about to leave the belay at the top of the first pitch. 4 good long pictches up very cool narrow gullies with mostly very good neve. Getting a little bit used in places which did mean a bit of a footless pull on pitch one. We topped out onto North East Buttress and decided to head down (tired, cold and grumpy on my part!) so did a couple of abseils down the ridge and then followed the ramp off the back. A weary walk back to the car but a good day out.
Today I was out with Catrin and we decided to head south to Beinn an Dothaidh. Weather forecast was for more wind than of late, a whole lot of cloud and some drizzle. We bumbled up into the coire and managed to find the route we were looking for - Taxus (III). In fab condition with some good ice and some gentle snow slopes in between. We opted for the IceFall Finish (IV,4) and very glad we did too - was brilliant! Then we sauntered back down out of the cloud and into some drizzle to welcome us back to the car.
Couple of grand days out and more planned for the next few days........... watch this space!
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