On another stunning day we made an attempt on the Ben via the CMD Arete but soon made the decision to back off due to heavy going and a few tired legs from yesterdays exertions. We descended to the CIC hut to have a play on the plentiful ice on the north side of the valley and to dig a few snow shelters. This week I am working for
Adventure Peaks.
Conditions on the Ben looked superb with plenty of ice around. However many of the routes that rely on some freeze thaw action were looking decidedly thin. Things were fairly quiet but there were teams on Tower Ridge, Ledge Route, No 4 Gully, CMD Arete and on the Cascades by the CIC Hut. Point Five looked very fat and there was a good covering of rime above approximately 800m. The temperature was -5 oC at sea level and there was only a gentle but cold northerly wind.
On another stunning day we made an attempt on the Ben via the CMD Arete but soon made the decision to back off due to heavy going and a few tired legs from yesterdays exertions. We descended to the CIC hut to have a play on the plentiful ice on the north side of the valley and to dig a few snow shelters. This week I am working for Adventure Peaks.
Conditions on the Ben looked superb with plenty of ice around. However many of the routes that rely on some freeze thaw action were looking decidedly thin. Things were fairly quiet but there were teams on Tower Ridge, Ledge Route, No 4 Gully, CMD Arete and on the Cascades by the CIC Hut. Point Five looked very fat and there was a good covering of rime above approximately 800m. The temperature was -5 oC at sea level and there was only a gentle but cold northerly wind.
