Gwilym's Adventure Blog

Another great day out climbing with Charlie and this time on Ben Nevis. Number 2 Gully Buttress a little bit challenging to find gear and belays but otherwise a nice route at Grade III. 

Out with Charlie for a personal climbing day in Coire an T'Sneacha where we climbed Trump Towers and some mixed grade II ground a but further along.

Even though things winter is slowing thawing, we were able to get into Number Two Gully high up on Ben Nevis where conditions are hanging on. The whole days was spent in mist and the route was a little soggy in places but that didn't stop lots of learning taking place Working for Wet and High Adventures Ltd

Back into Coire an T'Sneachda today with Mustafa to climb Jacob's Left Edge which was a little harder than normal due to lack of build up in places

Today I took Mustafa up Jacob's Ladder (Grade 1) as his first experience of a proper winter route. 5 pitches looking at Mustafa becoming a competent second. A pretty sociable day bumping into loads of people I know all along the route from in the carpark through to on the route itself. A little bit of a battering up top from the wind but nothing a pair of googles didn't sort out and then it was down to Tiso for coffee and cake. Working for Wet and High Adventures Ltd

On Day 2 of a Wet and High Adventures Winter Climbing course, with a major thaw in progress, we choose some snow banks and spent the day looking at different snow anchors including Buckets Seats, Snow Bollards, Deadman, Buried Axe and even tried a Buried Rucksack. Ban and Tim then tested the anchors to see what a difference both size and snow quality made

  On Day 1 of a Wet and High Adventures Ltd Winter Climbing course, Ben and Tim (both Rock Climbing Instructors) climbed a wet and drippy Jacobs Ladder under my guidance where we looked at gear placement, snow belays as well as managing to top out and get a great view of the Cairngorm Plateau.

What a day. Yeah Scotland, I knew you could do it Salamander Gully III 4 on Beinn a Dothaidh with Charlie. Very good ice, blue skies and eventually low wind. I was so warm and for the first time ever, Charlie took a layer off on the belay. First 2 pitches for Charlie, the main 2 pitches for me including the short steep crux and the last pitch back to Charlie to finish in the sun (last picture) and a walk out.

Finally back out after a few days of admin hiding from Storm Ciara. 2 super friendly Snow Buntings on the way into the CIC hut stopped to say hello and then we joined a large number of others heading for The Douglas Boulder. It was a googles day with the cold wind and snow blowing around. On arrival we managed to nip around a couple of pairs about to start on the South West Ridge and got ahead of them and made our way to the top. A bit blowy at times but the route was in good condition with gear when needed. A couple of thought provoking moves interspersed with easy ground and then it was a quick abseil back into West Gully And then the wind really hit us as we down climbed and very quickly made our way back to the CIC hut and then back to car and down the track by 14:30. Always good to get in, do a route and get out with some daylight left.

An excellent day with Mark on Raeburn's Gully Buttress today even if the snow was unconsolidated and unhelpful to say the least. There was some neve towards the top of the route and amazing views on the walk in, during the climb and on the descent.

Today, Will, Cameron and I walked into Ben Nevis with an open mind to see what was in. We headed high to Coire Na Ciste and spotted that South Gully looked good. Will and I swung leads over 3 pitches with Cameron following until we got stopped by the monster cornice. A couple of (long) abseils back and we were walking out. A fair amount of snow fell during the day and this was sitting on the old pack meaning careful route choice as we walked back down the approach apron. Sadly from the CIC hut down it was rain and by the time we reached the car we were very wet.

With storms raging up high, we took the sensible option of staying low and doing some dry tooling at Onich Slabs (along with a large number of other people) Sometimes the mountains do not want us up there!

Back out with Angus and Graeme in Corie An T'Sneachda but looking at climbing skills this time. With some input from me, the guys took themselves up Fake News (Grade II) This was another day of being observed as I work towards becoming a Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor .