Well, I headed up into Cwm Glas with my client today. We hope that we would avoid the worst of the strong winds, which should have been blowing over our heads. We did alright and nipped up Sargent’s Gully, and headed on up to Parsley Fern, we dug a few pits on the way up, and it was more stable than the last time I was up there, and surprisingly the wind was howling up Parsley Fern.
We climbed till we were just short of the top, and then descended to avoid the full force of the wind. We avoided some fairly obvious banks of what looked like windslab, by keeping on the left side of the gully (looking up). As we descended the spindrift was whipping into our faces in the usual unpleasant way.
Whilst descending back to Cwm Glas we saw a nice little icy step, and decided to head back up before descending again. Looking across at Cascade and Central Icefall, both looked better then I have ever seen them before.
We looked at using crampons, and ice axes on the way. From various ways to walk up a slope, to swinging the axe, and kicking steps, as well as avoiding a slip by always being in a solid position. Mal seemed to have an excellent day out, and wants to climb more ice tomorrow. So probably heading over towards Ogwen tomorrow, just need to look at the weather to decide where exactly.
Although also meant to be heading up to the climbing wall tonight, as I can’t forget my training!