Ben Nevis is currently bathed in sunshine. Out of my office window all I can see is blue sky, crystal white snow to sea level and the sun.

High up on Ben Nevis it has been very quiet over the last few days. With low level cascades well frozen most people are playing on Steall Falls and even the Lower Falls under the road bridge in Glen Nevis! In these super cold conditions the best thing to do is look for steep streams on the map and go prospecting!

If you do go up high the classic ridges are all brilliant as well as Ledge Route and the Carn Mor Dearg Arete. There is very good ice in the gullies and the high crags are rimed up with little ice in the cracks. However there are still pockets of windslab on all aspects and faceted depth hoar crystals have been growing within the snow pack so even the eroded old bits of snow will be suspect. Learn to recognise wind slab and avoid these patches!

Where the springs run over the crags the ice is fat. The Carn Dearg Cascades, Waterfall Gully and the cascade section of Compression Crack are all huge. The Curtain is still too thin on the slab but Vanishing Gully and Italian shag are complete. Routes such as Mega Route X and The Shroud require the snow patches above to melt and run water down the climbs. This has not happened due to the persistent cold temperatures so there is almost no ice on these routes.

It's going to be a weekend to remember so make sure you get out and do something. Put on plenty of suncream and remember the shades!

Michaf C Pescod
UKC Ben Nevis Correspondent