Today was the first day of the Winter Meet that I put together for the Austrian Alpine Club. We didn't have a particularly big turnout but this was a nice sociable event. Unfortunately the weather didn't play ball so the dreams of Tower Ridge, Aonach Eagach and Point 5 gully were soon diminished. With high temperatures and high winds we headed into the Mamores. It was raining at the start and raining at the end and pretty much all the time in between. We headed up to Stob Coire a'Chairn (981m). On arriving at the summit the group were more than happy to head down for tea and cakes, a good choice I think!

Today was another fantastic day to be working in Lochaber, blue skies, light winds and fantastic climbing conditions. Due to a little slip on the descent from Stob Coire nan Lochain yesterday, Izzi wasn't feeling on top form and on our approach into Ben Nevis we agreed that we needed some Vitamin D in our lives! So we opted for a quick ascent of Number 3 Gully to the sunshine, instead of heading for our other objective of Green or Comb Gully, both of which had many teams on them. We headed up to the summit as this was Izzi's first time up there.

Today I was working with returning client Izzi from Essex. She's been dying to go climbing as her last few personal trips have being either rained or winded off. So today we headed into Stob Coire nan Lochain in Glencoe. We had many options for the day but we started off on the Cold Climbs classic, Twisting Gully (III,4) which had some great neve on it. The climbing was brilliant and Izzi made quick work of it. We topped out and nipped back down and then climbed Raeburns Route (IV,4) which was fantastic. I have wanted to do this route for quite a while now and it is worth its 3 stars. The crag was pretty quiet today with other teams also on Twisting and Raeburns and also Dorsal, SC and NC Gully. The buttresses were black but where the snow is sitting (gully's and easier routes) it is of good quality.

Today was another fantastic day in the office! Today I was out working with father and son team Alan and Austin. We had lots of options today as Ben Nevis is looking fantastic but with a cold and a sore back in the group we opted for something low down and not too demanding. It turns out that both Alan and Austin are fitter than they think and our next 3 days out will be alot more adventurous. They are keen for Tower Ridge, Thompsons Route (their surname is Thompson) and a day out in Glencoe. Fingers crossed for some nice weather next week for them. Many other teams out enjoying the good conditions. Indicator wall, Sioux Wall, Kenny and Gordon did Italian RH and many other routes were climbed. North Buttress looked fantastic today too with at least one team on it.

Today I was working with a pair from QUB Mountaineering Club who are over from Ireland. Over the last couple of days Coreen and Yo have been doing some winter skills and some grade II climbing. Today they wanted to have a swing around with 2 axes. So today we headed for Ben Nevis as there were lots of options for us to have a look at. We headed into Creag coire na Ciste to see what options we had. There were many teams out today but we opted for Number 3 Gully Buttress (my first ever winter route, back in 2006). This route has some patches of ice and some great mixed terrain which allowed the guys to have an taster of the different styles of climbing. We weren't the only ones on the route, a couple of other teams were making an ascent which made it a nice sociable day. Kenny was working with Gordon and climbed Two Step Corner. Other teams were on Green and Comb Gully and I think a team went up Thompson's. Castle ridge and Ledge route also saw ascents and were reported to be in good condition but a little windy.

Today was my second day working for Abacus Mountain Guides with Brin and Dave. Ben Nevis was much quieter today with nobody ahead of us after our 8am start. Unfortunately we couldn't see a great deal so we weren't sure if we were being followed up. We headed up and climbed Comb Gully (IV,4) which was in great condition. Good ice all the way up. Mike and his team went and climbed Thompson's Route, which sounded fantastic. Teams were on Two Step Corner and Don't Die of Ignorance. Fresh snow had fallen over night and wind slab has been laying in places but our approaches were fine to head up. A great day with two really keen and competent climbers, great weekend!!

Today I was working for Abacus Mountain Guides with Dave and Brin who wanted something around the grade 5 mark. As they haven't been climbing for a while we opted for the Cascade (IV,5) on Ben Nevis. To get onto this we climbed a long pitch of about grade 3 ice below and left of the Cascade. We climbed the Cascade in two pitches then shot over and climbed up Experts Choice (III,4) to find a buried axe belay at the top, thanks Mike. Then followed a nice sociable walk down the Red Burn. The mountain was very busy today, was great to see so many folk out enjoying the weather and conditions. Teams on Glovers, Tower Ridge, Number 2 gully Buttress, Comb Gully Sioux Wall, Strident Edge, Route 1, Ledge Route plus many more. The snow was generally good, seemed to be bonding well but with fresh snowfall due tonight it may well be a little different tomorrow.

Today was one of those days you just don't want to miss. Plenty of snow around, blue skies and very little wind. Makes winter climbing even more enjoyable (apart from the wading through snow and the avalanche risk). Adam and I avoided the wading and the avalanche risk and headed for the Douglas Boulder on Ben Nevis. After yesterdays antic's we were both a little tired so we didn't want anything hard so I took Adam up Jacknife (V,6). Adam has done quite a bit of hard leads in the last few days so was happy for me to do all the tricky bits today, despite being pretty tired myself. Its quite a short route but packs a punch, one long pitch (which can be avoided) to get to the 25m pitch of bridging excitement. Adam then finished up a 5m head wall. The route joins on to the South West Ridge which we descended and wandered down of the mountain for some tea and cakes! Many other teams out; Ledge Route and Tower Ridge got done as did Route 1, Slab Climb, Darth Vader, Sioux Wall, Gargoyle Wall plus many more. Lots of fresh snow around so care needs to be taken.