I used to keep track of my winter climbing each season by keeping a points system and comparing (competing) with my friends to see who got the most points. For each winter climb you get the same number of points as the overall grade plus a point for each star as well. So Tower Ridge on Ben Nevis gets you 8 points because it is grade IV and has four stars.

Over the last eight days I have been out climbing on seven days and did everything on the list below -

Green Gully IV ***
Thompson's Route IV ***
Point Five Gully V ****
Tower Ridge IV ****
Curved Ridge III ***
Two Step Corner V ***
Good Friday Climb III ***

So my tally in the last eight days is 51! This must be some kind of record especially as (apart from Good Friday Climb yesterday) they were all in sunshine with perfect cold and dry conditions, often above a sea of cloud in the glens.

The snow cover is quite patchy and doesn't look very impressive when you look up from the roads. However when the temperatures dropped just after Christmas and after a few days of rain on the tops of the hills the snow froze absolutely solid and ice started forming.

The snow on the tops and in the corries and gullies is hard and icy and lots of ice has formed lower down where streams and trickles have frozen. The conditions underfoot are quite tricky and crampons and ice axes are essential along with the ability to use them! There are several activity providers that can coach you in essential winter skills or even show you the secrets of ice climbing.

We now have brilliant ice climbing conditions on Ben Nevis and Aonach Mor with superb winter hill walking and many people were out enjoying the Alpine conditions during the holidays. The weather is forecast to stay cold for another few days to come so the good winter conditions will continue.

It's been a fantastic start to the winter! Let's hope it continues.

Mike