From the icy Allt a Mhuillin just after dawn, Fort William looked like an Arctic town set against a frosty background, more like the Canadian West Coast than the West Highlands today.

It was another big day on the Ben with teams venturing on to the Orion Face and into the Minus Gullies. Many teams were out on the Ridges too with North East Buttress, Tower and Castle all getting climbed. Bruce reported less favourable conditions on Castle Ridge which had not seen a recent ascent untill today and was an awkward mix of powder snow over icy rocks.

Tom and James completed their first winter lead with a fine grade II ice gully on the CIC Hut crag. After that we went for a walk under the North Wall of Carn Dearg to look at Blair and Iain's new Nevis mixed route 'The Past is Close Behind'....More details on this to follow. Suffice to say when a team as strong as this one return to the Fort at 0200 there is some pretty absorbing climbing to report...

Tom, James and I finished our week of winter climbing and alpine training with a hugely enjoyable ascent of the CIC hut crag cascacde (link to more pictures). Although initially vertical this provided an almost Kalymnos like 3-d ice experience with some superb hooks and footholds to match, fantastic and funky and a real pleasure to climb.

Tom, Tom and Tamsin hit the jackpot with their winter traverse of the Carn Mor Dearg Arete and Ben Nevis starting from the Aonach Mor Gondola. Fine wintery conditions with superb views and pristine arctic like weather made for a very special day on the hill.