With a high avalanche risk we headed up to Aonach Mor and the Nid area for Andy & Clare to put everything they'd learnt in to practice. We found a rocky spur with plenty of ice which gave them four full rope lengths of easy grade II to practice leading and climbing as a team of two. They then soloed the final easy slopes to the Nid summit before a quick descent to the gondala and back to the hotel for tea and medals. This week I have been working for Adventure Peaks.
The existing snowpack was well consolidated with an icy crust due a slight thaw and refreeze. However there was plenty of new soft windslab lying on this surface on north westerly slopes. We avoided one or two suspect slopes on the approach and the Nid Bowl was well loaded. There is still plenty of ice around and conditions were great for climbing with first time placements. The freezing level was around 700m but dropped steadily throughout the day.
