3rd week of May 1995. Nippy night air all week in Dundee with clear skies. Any ice left on the Ben? Playing a hunch and my pal Denny needed no persuading. CIC hut, looking up and one line only, a thin .5.Every elsewhere was black. Met the legend Ken Crocket who provided a cuppa and "it could be on" encouragement. What a great day, never to be forgotten, thin but safe climbing and the only ones on the north face.
Favorite part 09:00 ..."You won't see this in any books. But then there's lots of winter belays you won't see in any books"! Well said West Coast Mountain Guides! Perfect
Alans comment re pitch 2 correct , I found it steepest but so narrow you can bridge it , we did it 6th April , holes in pitch two that you could stand in , great route , no much pro above rouge pitch , deadman if you are lucky a great route
I would probably get some mileage on easier ice climbs before tackling Point 5 Gully. Ben Nevis, in particular, has lots of options at all grades and is the most reliable ice climbing venue in the UK.
What Ken said - if you have to ask you're not ready for Point 5. There's a lot of craft and cunning involved in safe winter climbing - work up gradually and stay healthy!
3rd week of May 1995. Nippy night air all week in Dundee with clear skies. Any ice left on the Ben? Playing a hunch and my pal Denny needed no persuading. CIC hut, looking up and one line only, a thin .5.Every elsewhere was black. Met the legend Ken Crocket who provided a cuppa and "it could be on" encouragement. What a great day, never to be forgotten, thin but safe climbing and the only ones on the north face.
Good climber, wonderfully captured in this video, how he climbs so technically on rocky mountain peaks!
Favorite part 09:00 ..."You won't see this in any books. But then there's lots of winter belays you won't see in any books"! Well said West Coast Mountain Guides! Perfect
Alans comment re pitch 2 correct , I found it steepest but so narrow you can bridge it , we did it 6th April , holes in pitch two that you could stand in , great route , no much pro above rouge pitch , deadman if you are lucky a great route
"Must be doing something right" Said Alan Kimber. Maybe the biggest understatement ever
I like the way spike called you out for being smarmy and using the term day trippers. Are you not also coming to ben nevis for the day?
Superb film!
Great video!
I like to climb Ive never done anything like this before but been asked to do so with a friend who knows what there doing. How did you find the climb?
I would probably get some mileage on easier ice climbs before tackling Point 5 Gully. Ben Nevis, in particular, has lots of options at all grades and is the most reliable ice climbing venue in the UK.
What Ken said - if you have to ask you're not ready for Point 5. There's a lot of craft and cunning involved in safe winter climbing - work up gradually and stay healthy!