Today I was working alongside Mike for Abacus Mountain Guides. We had a team of enthusiastic rock climbers looking to progress their skills to be able to tackle Winter climbing and mountaineering routes. Its no secret there is a lack of ice and snow to play in just now, but Mike suggested Tower Ridge which proved to be a great choice allowing plenty of opportunity for everyone to get to grips with Alpine style movement over a very long route. Tower Ridge has just an aesthetic dusting of snow but it felt pretty wintry, enough to don crampons for the whole route and throw an axe into the few patches of snow left after the thaw. The good news is that the turfs frozen, snow remains in all the big gully’s and there’s still a number of routes in climbing condition. Unfortunately temperatures are due to rise again tomorrow, but there is a possibility of snow on the horizon bringing a much needed opportunity to go mixed climbing.

Exiting the Douglas Gap

Mike and team enjoying the climbing

A good dusting of snow higher up the route

Eastern Traverse in friendly conditions

Mike and team crossing Tower Gap

The hard bit done……

Dean exiting Tower Gap