A sharp overnight frost following a series of cool snowy days saw ice re-building down to 700m or so on Ben Nevis. Even the CIC Hut Crag Cascade had reformed, albeit at a rather more serious proposition than before.

Teams traversing the Carn Mor Dearg Arete today were treated to constant views across to the North Face of Ben Nevis looking pristine. Those on the North Face of Ben Nevis were treated to decent winter conditions (for spring) with Ice, frozen turf, and frosty buttresses higher up giving a good range of options for ice or mixed climbing.

Blair and Kenny ran out of ice high on 'The Flight of the Condor' and finished up Albatross instead. Another team found Riders on the Storm complete and various other teams climbed Orion Face, Slav Route, Hadrian's Wall, North East Buttress, Smith's Route, Tower Ridge, Castle Ridge, Ledge Route, No.2 Gully and Number 4 Gully. Tamsin, Heather and Fran enjoyed 'Thompson's Route' but reported pretty Tough conditions.

Jenny and I tried a new mixed line in Coire na Ciste but it proved something of a baptism of fire for her mixed climbing career and we went for a decent simple mountaineering combination linking 1934 Route and Faulty Towers to gain and descend Tower Ridge.

We saw some fine tracks low down on the North Face which don't quite fit those of a fox, hare, wild cat or deer so please check them out here and let me know if you can identify them. Whilst you're at it see if you can identify these animal tracks too.

More Ben Nevis winter climbing photos and crag shots from today on the mountain.