Sunday 14 April 2013

April 13th ...The Final Climb..

Central Gully.... Great End.......the very last climb...........probably....

With the warmer weather already here it was doubtful if we would be able to make a final ascent of Central Gully on Great End as planned.
There was plenty of snow on the walk in and an early start made us hopeful that the snow pack would be just firm enough to get up.
Initially the snow was quite soft and sugary and with some evidence of an old avalanche we considered backing off, but plodded up to the first pitch where things improved enough for us to go on up.
The top of Ruddy Gill


 
Allen Crags and Ruddy Gill
The snow pack was softish for most of the way and became very soft (as expected) on the exit.

All in all I guess that by the end of the weekend it won't be possible to make forward and upward  progress through the gullies.  What ice there was sounded a bit hollow in places and will be receding fast today.

If it does refreeze then it'll be amazing,....


The start, conditions looking promising

Pitch One

Left Branch ice looking very used

Fisheye view of Left and Right Branch in the Ampitheatre

Tea break in the Ampitheatre

The upper exit slopes


Then the rain came
South-East and Central Gullies

THE END





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