CMD Arete above the clouds.

Today was a stunner! Sally and Chris went up to Carn Mor Dearg to go round the CMD Arete onto Ben Nevis. They quickly climbed out through the cloud and were met with a calm sunny day with amazing snow cover and views stretching away in all directions. Carn Mor Dearg itself looked like an Alpine giant with a snow crest reaching up into the sky and the arete itself is super snowy and simple underfoot. Is there a better route to enjoy on a day like today? I'm not sure there is!

The CMD Arete is one of Scotland's best mountain routes and when you have a view over the cloud to the buttresses and gullies of Ben Nevis it is at its best. It was a good bit warmer today and, especially in the sunshine, all you needed was a light jumper. The snow was a bit softer in the sunshine but in the shade it is still pretty good. Old snow is still exposed where the wind has caught it and this is still quite solid under foot.

There is lots of ice climbing to enjoy in the next couple of days. By mid-week we will get a much warmer day again with rain before the temperature drops to refreeze the snow ready for next weekend. So it seems like we will get some really nice Spring ice climbing conditions. This is what Ben Nevis is famous for and when the climbing is at its best. Make sure you get out and enjoy it if you can!