Club meet: CIC Hut, 21-23 Jan 2011

After escaping from work on Friday night, seven of us made the long drive west and approach walk to stay at the CIC Hut. Situated at the foot of the cliffs on the north side of the Ben, this famous SMC hut provides an unparalleled base for access to Scottish winter climbing, and now comes fully equipped with a pair of composting toilets fitted since the club's last winter visit!

The CIC Hut

Fully laden with food and kit for the weekend, the slog from the north face car park to the hut wasn't exactly fun. It was, however, free of precipitation and easy underfoot.

The weather on Saturday was excellent but mild. Broken cloud was just scraping summit level with plenty of sun about and very little wind. We split into three parties, with early birds Romain and David heading for Observatory Ridge, then Derek, Phil and Alex beginning the Ledge Route shortly after, and mid-morning casuals Scuz and Linda finally dragging themselves out of slumber and following on the same route.

Romain and Dave arrived early at the base of Observatory ridge. However, after the first axe placement on cruddy snow / ice, they lost inspiration and decided to swap for Tower Ridge... So Tower Ridge here we go!

Just after Tower Gap

Dave high up on Tower Ridge

Dave topping out

"A great day on the ridge climbing with Dave and with great views."

Over on the Ledge Route, the ascent was straightforward and a real pleasure in the conditions. Having gained some ground, Scuz and Linda caught up at the top where we all passed over the summit and down to the start of Carn Mor Dearg arete. Derek and Alex descended here to play on some water ice on the way back to the hut, while the others continued along the arete to the summit of Carn Mor Dearg.

Linda and Scuz at 'the gangway'

Posing at the top

That evening, in a busy and rather dark (no wind to power the lights!) hut, the AMC culinary skills were on show once again, constructing a monster feast of modified minestrone soup, chunky vegetable curry and 'rustically-presented' banoffee pie. Early nights for all (a little later for Scuz who got locked out while walking off her dinner!).

Banoffee pie, CIC-style

With weary legs, Derek, Phil and Alex were first out the door on Sunday. After an hour or so of bumbling around high in Coire na Ciste in the clag, they managed to find the start of our intended route - Raeburn's Easy Route. This proved an entertaining route, with good ice on the initial steep section before an exposed traverse and final steep ascent over the top on snow slopes.


Photos from the Ledge Route and Raeburn's Easy Route

Scuz and Linda passed beneath Raeburn's to find North Gully for a nice pitch of grade II, while Romain and David impressively flew up the Ledge Route and down #4 gully to have the kettle on by 11am! We all made the walk out in good time to start the drive home at dusk.