FULL WINTER CONDITIONS ON CMD ARETE-IN MAY

The cloud lifts on CMD

Here we go!

Fab views as always

dinner time

Great views and sunshine

The final bit of the arete

Alone on the summit, still over 2m of snow

Stuart was out with me today for an ascent of Ben Nevis, which he booked last week. Initialy he was thinking summer conditions but the high hills of Lochaber at the moment are most definitely winter on the tops above 950m or so. So after a quick run down on axe and crampon technique we headed over a fab snowy arete. It was well plastered in fresh snow and looked more like a February day, in fact there was probably more snow than a lot of 'winter' month days. Stuart just loved every minute and we were rewarded with glimpses of the hills, the arete and The north face of Ben Nevis as it flirted through out the day. There was some snow furries through the morning but the afternoon was great. We only saw one other party all day, Spike and his clients had just come down off Ledge Route and we crossed paths at the abseil post. It was heavy going in some deeper snow on the final slopes up to the summit and there is still over 2 metres of snow on the summit area. A great winter day out, how long will it last? I'm back on The Ben tomorrow and the start of another 3 Peaks Challenge event. Looks like good weather again and for early next week, with something a bit warmer in keeping with late May!