Them crystals is a growing. Just one hour to the bottom of Number Six Gully, where once again there was another team just ahead.
Second pitch of the route. I led the first, which was brittle & slim for the first few minutes & turned all toffee pretty soon after.
Mark on the third pitch.
The team ahead, Olly & pal on the pitch beneath the main section of ice. Unfortunately i had to make a dash for Perth at this point.
Below: good view of Elliot's Downfall & the surrounding routes. There was some pretty meaty ice forming.
Having oggled Number Six Gully on the East face of Aonach Dubh I went back up yesterday with Mark and Iain. I led the first pitch, which it looks like others have been avoiding. It was a good, narrow pitch, with a few ice screws able to be placed full depth. Mark & Iain led the other pitches - 2 for Mark & 3 for Iain before descending into Stob Coire nam Beith.
Unfortuantely I needed to be in Perth for a meeting early in the evening, so started scuttling after the 3rd pitch. I rediscovered how much more difficult it is to climb ice in rounded, mixed crampons! The ice was excellent though, and it must have been several degrees warmer given the dripping ice. The ice was thick enough to be placing plenty of ice screws too. Felt like stropping about having to drive away, but the stunning views all the way to Crainlarich appeased me pretty well.
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