Enjoying the comforts of the CIC Hut patio!After a good session on the ice wall at the Ice Factor yesterday, we went looking for ice despite the continuing thaw. We headed up a very icy path to Ben Nevis to have a look at the CIC Cascades and the Gulch which were both reported to still be in existence. Both were still hanging in just so we made a very soggy ascent of the Gulch at about grade II / III.
The remaining snow pack was heavily saturated and it looked like there had been some avalanche activity in Coire na Ciste and a the foot of Number 5 Gully. There were a couple of other teams in the Gulch, climbers on the right hand CIC Cascade and we bumped in to a lad who'd post-holed round the CMD Arete. Several of the river crossings were treacherous with weak snow bridges over fast flowing water and despite temperatures of 8 oC at sea level today the track to the North Face car park is still sheet ice.
A pitch of soggy ice in the Gulch.
Sarah exiting through a shower.
Gareth on the final moves
Gareth & Sarah above the Gulch (II/III)
The CIC Cascades. The right hand fall was climbed today.
