Busy Ben

A team of 3 climbers on Route 1. In this photo the leader is in battle with the first chimney pitch

Abacus Mountaineering - Winter Climbing

Today I was working for Abacus Mountaineering - I met up with Guy this morning and headed off to the busy Ben. The plan was to take Guy up his first winter route on his first day in crampons. The North Face car park was very full, and cars were parked down the road. There were climbers everywhere I looked. There was a team doing well on Route 1 on Carn Dearg Buttress. There were many teams on Tower Ridge, a few teams on Castle Ridge. Several teams on Green Gully. 2 teams and me on Number Three Gully Buttress. Several teams on various routes on Creag Coire na Ciste. I think I saw teams on Gargoyle Wall.

Spot all the climbers. Number Three Gully Buttress in the centre

Many many teams on Tower Ridge today

Guy on Number Three Gully Buttress

Guy had a great day of climbing, and took the completely new experience in his stride. He has a background of solo grit climbing up to E3 and bouldering, but he said this was one of his best days of climbing - and with perfect Ben weather and good conditions, it seemed to be a great day for everybody.

Guy enjoying his first day on crampons

Guy at the last belay. What is the climb, the climbers are doing behind Guy up the corner?

Guy about to finish his first winter route

Name that climb? Also in the photo below.

Climbers making good progress on Tower Ridge