Ben Nevis 27-03-12

The last few days have been clear, warm and sunny on the Ben.  We have been out doing a mix of rock routes and ice.  There have been teams on the classic rock climbs enjoying warm rock whilst others have been on good ice higher up.

The ice is obviously getting limited but whats there is still good.  Smiths, Tower Cascade and Shot in the Dark have all been climbed over the last few days.  The first pitch of Tower Scoop is now incomplete and seems very unstable and worth avoiding.  The biggest problem currently is ice/rock fall.  There have been some big falls over the last few days, some big lumps came off Tower Cascade Right-hand yesterday as the sun catches the route.  Today a big fall came out of Gardyloo Gully and it was good no one was in there or even in Observatory Gully.  Tower Ridge, Castle Ridge, Observatory Ridge and NE Buttress have all been getting ascents and are mainly passable on rock, definitely still plan to pass some snow though so not time to leave the axe behind yet.