North East Buttress, Ben Nevis
Sam & Stu arrive on the First Platform of the North East Buttress on Ben Nevis after the exposed traverse from Coire Leis
North East Buttress is an all time mountaineering classic and Sam, Stu and I all hugely enjoyed the fine conditions on it today. The scale, style of climbing, open vista and weather all gave the day an alpine atmosphere and we tried to respond by keeping the momentum up. It was still a 10.5 hour round trip from the North Face car park and we made a bee-line for Fort William's latest Curry House, Spice Tandori, immediately after getting down.
We met a French team from the hut above the thinly iced 40ft corner (and a fairly dry 'Mantrap', with neve just above) who had just climbed Astral Highway and reported decent conditions. Other teams had climbed Point Five, Zero, Minus 2, Tower Ridge and Green Gully.
There was some thick cloud and light snow on the tops this afternoon as a contrast to the recent 'beau temps'.
Photos of the Mantrap and Minus / Orion Faces.
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