Saturday 15 December 2012

damp day on Ben Nevis

Paul and Callum

Approaching underneath the Douglas Boulder

Starting to feel a bit damp

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Paul enjoying Faulty Towers

Callum finishing a few tricky moves on Faulty Towers
Last night team Point 5 Mountaineering ploughed through strong winds, driving rain and icy paths up to the CIC hut.  Our accommodation for the weekend.  Kenny was out with his strong regulars Andy, Paul and Callum and I was asked to come along and help out on both days.  So an early start saw us fuelling up on porridge and putting together a plan for the day.  The forecast wasn't great; windy, wet and becoming milder.  So Kenny and Andy went for a quick hit on the Great Chimney (V,5) on the east side of Tower Ridge which they both found in brilliant mixed condition, sounded like some good sport.  Paul, Callum and I diverted to the other side of Tower Ridge and climbed the South West Ridge of the Douglas Boulder (III) which was in good condition.  After abseiling off and with plenty of daylight left we decided to do another route and we ended up climbing Faulty Tower's (II) which gave 3 good pitches of icy chimneys and tricky mixed steps.  With it being a little lean meant the mixed sections were more exposed and tricky.  From the top of the route we negotiated our way down Tower Ridge and another abseil saw us walking back to the hut where the kettle had boiled and the biscuits were out.

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