Pinnacle Buttress, Aonach Dubh.

Slightly warmer weather again last night and rain to the summits gave way slowly this morning to a bright day. We even had some sunshine this afternoon. Geaspar and Maghnus had to be in Lochgilphead by 4.30pm though so we got an early start and an early finish. We went for a climb on the west face of Aonach Dubh in Glen Coe. This has a short but brutal approach walk and a fantastic atmosphere once on the climbs.

We climbed Pinnacle Arete with a start to the right of the buttress. This is a route I've climbed a couple of times now and I think it's great. Many years ago I was assessed climbing it for my MIA and I didn't really appreciate how much fun it is then! Despite a few areas of loose rock there is great climbing on steep rough rhyolite with big holds. The slope beneath drops right down to the glen and away to the loch so it is a very airy place to climb.

From the top of the climb it is easy to walk rightwards to the foot of the North Ridge of The Amphitheatre, another great, clean climb at about grade Difficult. There are lots of pinnacles and chimneys in the Amphitheatre and in face right along this face and I'd love to explore a bit more up there. we went over to Number Two Gully to descend and followed the wee ledge out to the right which brings you out underneath Dinnertime Buttress. Again, it's a quick, if brutal, descent and we made it back with plenty of time for the guys to get down the road. We done to Geaspar and Maghnus and I hope everything goes well on the big day on Saturday!