The rest of the guys met us at the North Face carpark to take part in our second winter skills day. This time courtesy of Mike Pescod of Abacus Mountaineering.
We walked into the coire and up past the CIC hut and into Coire na Ciste, passing No5 Gully on our right. You can see a team of guys heading up the right hand side, probably on route for the Ledge.
In the coire we practised ice axe and body belays, with lots of sliding downhill to see if the belayer could hold a fall. Then after a quick bite to eat in ever worsening weather, we headed up towards No 3 Gully.
We headed up in 2 teams of 3 into deeper softer snow, which became really hard work as we went higher into the gully. Mike decided a direct exit through the cornice might be difficult due to all the fresh (and constantly falling) snow.
The rest of the guys waited just below the cornice whilst I belayed Mike as he recced a more direct route out. This turned out to be more grade 2 and a little steeper then some expected!
Me being the Guinea pig as Mike belayed me up with me bringing the rest of the rope to bring the next guys up.
Me ungracefully hacking my way to the top!
Once I had built a "stomper" belay at the top, I then had the knackering job of belaying Mark and Stevie up, with the rest of the guys close behind on their rope.
Bill and Willy at the top of No 3 Gully.
Everybody safely up to enjoy another sunny day on the Ben!
After a descent through the pea soup, we found a spot near the Red Burn to practice abseiling using snow bollards. Then it was crampons off and a "sprint" down to the North Face car park, and then back for a well earned pint!
Thanks to Mike's secret filming, we unknowingly became "stars" for an Abacus Mountaineering video! Another excellent day out with Mike, and hopefully we'll do some more winter stuff next year!
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