Today myself and fellow instructor Dave A climbed Number 3 gully buttress on Ben Nevis. With a slight thaw on the lower altitudes the buttresses high up on Ben Nevis were still frozen. With Number 3 gully buttress starting at around 1200m this resulted in good ice on the first pitch and the first ice screws placed of the season (the best bits of gear we took).
After a good first ice pitch at around grade III, i led over the simpler snow ramp middle pitch trying to gain as much distance as possible, with protection not that forthcoming belays were taken when we found them.
It was then time for the classic final traverse pitch which over looks Number 3 gully and has a few airy steps to negotiate before finishing the route on the summit plateaux.
A good classic climb to get done and the first of the season on Ben Nevis.
