Terry and I traveled up to the Scottish Highlands this weekend having heard about the almost perfect conditions on Ben Nevis, and adding in the continuing ‘bon temps’ forecast, we had to go. A big route on the Ben seemed within grasp!

Traveling Britain’s motorways is a trial. And that isn’t even counting for the catering at motorway services. When we stopped for dinner I asked for the steak pie. The lady serving had to check with the cook if there was any left – there was one! Then I was asked, “Would you like chips with that?”, I replied, “What are the choices?”, the answer, “None”. I had chips with my steak pie and luminous green mushy peas. Nice!

Arriving at Riasg we looked for the key to gain entry early the next morning to the forestry track that takes an hour out of the walk up to the north face of Ben Nevis. It wasn’t there! Whoever’d had it during the week had passed it on to another without signing it out, and against the system that allowed Terry and I to book it for the weekend. A great way to ruin our plans. Only one thing for it. Wake them up and get it!

Of course the morning did come, we did have the key, and after some off-road fun getting Terry’s little Corsa up the forestry track we finally got to the mountain.

It was crowded! Every ice climber in Britain had heard about the conditions and was out to play.

We had planned to climb Orion Face Direct, but that had at least 8 people strung out up the route. Not one of them moving an inch as we slogged up the snow slope to the base. Busy! So we chose to climb Zero Gully, a super classic.

On top was so nice we hung out just soaking up the sunshine and the views. It isn’t often you get a view like that from the top of the Ben. I even took my boots off and relaxed my tired feet ready for the walk back down.

One last picture though, is this the most freakishly scary cornice you’ve ever seen? It must be overhanging the cliff by 25+ feet, a fast way to descend a very long way! Or maybe a BASE jumping platform?