Easy Gully II (adj Curved Ridge) with video , 24th February 2013.

An absolutely stunning day in Glencoe today with Gordon, Ian and Willy. From what we could gather from various blogs, and information on UKC, the Aonach Eagach seemed to have lost much of it's snow. So we went for the grade II (III ?) Easy Gully (between Curved Ridge and the Rannoch Wall). The path from Lagangarbh was icey in places and some of the rock steps you normally fly up on the way to Curved Ridge were quite tricky with ice, big boots and big gloves!
On the way, we passed the Waterslide Slab which had a nice ice curtain on it.  

In hindsight, it may have been better to head straight up through various snow patches as if heading for Crowberry Gully, as the normal round-about summer route was a bit of a waste of time! However, we got ourselves up to the crowberry basin and struck left for Easy Gully, with the Rannoch Wall towering above us to the right.   

We only saw four people in or around the gully all day. Two headed left onto Curved Ridge itself. The other two joined higher up before the narrow ice pitch and we met them again at the cairn.

Ian and Gordon looking for gear before we headed up to the narrow ice section just right of centre.

Gordon, with Ian just behind (Willy out of shot) above the narrow section with the Rannoch Wall to the left and the A82 way below.  

Ian on his way up to the crest of Curved Ridge.  

We sat by the cairn marking the end of the ridge and chatted with the two climbers who had left the gully to come up the ridge. After more food, we sorted the gear out and moved together up the snow basin and then right to go up behind Crowberry Tower.   

Willy in Crowberry Tower Gap, belaying for Ian.

Gordon heading up to the gap with Glen Etive behind. 

Never can find the right name of this gully between the tower and main summit? 

Looking over Buachaille Etive Beag towards the Ballachulish Bridge.

Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg Arete in the late afternoon sun.

Sun set, as seen from Buachaille Etive Mor. 

Finally the long descent back to the car down Coire na Tulaich.