Refreshing WML Skills – On The Ben
Posted by Max Hunter on 18th January, 2014
Minus Face and Observatory Ridge
A team eyeing up Minus Face – vis was poor
Today I was with Dave and Malc. Dave is in the middle of his precious few days he has on this trip, up from South Wales. He wanted to focus on a few bits of the WML syllabus, so we spent the day looking at maintaining security on steep ground, and appropriate anchors in different situations – all over the East Gully and areas around the D Boulder. After discussing the last scenario we happily fitted head-torches and made our way down. A great day – thanks to Malc and Dave for falling or sliding about at the right times to test various anchors or dynamic belaying – great fun.
Several teams were on the SW ridge of the Douglas Boulder (inc Nick Carter), Alan Halewood headed off up Tower Ridge (which might have been a bit of a swim?), and a team looked at Minus 3, but I don’t know how they got on.
Dave on his way up the East Gully
Malc
Dave working hard
The W gully from the Douglas Gap