It was a rather damp day on Ben Nevis and driving dreichness at the CIC Hut deterred Neil and I from an attempt on Observatory Ridge.

The prospect of a more sheltered route with cosy cave belays and a low top out on North East Buttress proved a more attractive option and Minus 3 lived up to it's reputation as one of the best Gully climbs on the Mountain. Four sustained pitches following a superb sinuous icy groove tucked up hard against an overhung right wall give the route a real character that the West Coast wet rime falling off the rocks (and the wet boots) only enhanced. The crux 2nd pitch out of the commodious cave offered a few fine steep moves that left me pausing only to think how much harder it would have been in the bad old days when we used to leash ourselves to ice-axes.

A huge spike at the top of the route offers a quick rap down on to the first platform and the easy but serious traverse back across in to Coire Leis.

Thanks to Brian & Martin for tea, cakes and post match analysis in the CIC Hut.

More of todays Ben Nevis winter climbing photos