My first May Scottish climb and the fantastic finale of this fantastic winter season! James lead P1 and then lead alternatively. Didn't expect we'd use 3 screws for both the upper & lower belay... 50m pitches with 3 screw runners only were not really good... We were continuously assaulted by spindrift from both above and below.
masa-alpin - AltLd O/S - 04/May/13 with James C

Excellent. Sustained and interesting all the way. The popularity is justified. Storm winds hit on the way down. Well timed.
NeilGriffiths - AltLd - 13/Apr/13 with Adrian Pedley

Mega route, done without incident apart from one dropped screw, won't mention names but it wasnt me!! great conditions topped out as the wind picked up
a pedley - AltLd - 13/Apr/13 with neil Griffeths

Hidden - AltLd O/S - 13/Apr/13

Great Climb but took us a while. Good sustained level of climbing all the way through the 8 pitches.
Joe Nunn - AltLd O/S - 12/Apr/13

alan r b - AltLd - 09/Apr/13 with cam fowler, luke

Hidden - 08/Apr/13

Scotsken - Lead O/S - 07/Apr/13 with Jonno

Led 1, 4, 7 9 pitches
abbeywall - AltLd - 06/Apr/13 with K, FM

AMAZING!
naffan - Solo O/S - 05/Apr/13

Hidden - AltLd - 02/Apr/13

dav_713 - AltLd - 02/Apr/13 with Davie Scott

Hidden - Lead - Apr/13

Conditions were thin lower down on the crux but Alex did a grand job! Awesome route, took a while but involved everything I enjoy about ice climbing on the Ben.
simon_D - AltLd O/S - 29/Mar/13 with Alex

With rob and Sean - short day
peter neden - Lead - 16/Mar/13

rob1 - AltLd O/S - 13/Mar/13

Matthew Robinson - AltLd - 13/Mar/13 with Rob

Hidden - 2nd - 13/Mar/13

gregor - 12/Mar/13

jon22 - AltLd O/S - 10/Mar/13 with The Bad Cough

Fantastic conditions! Car to car 10 1/2 hours.
The Bad Cough - AltLd O/S - 10/Mar/13 with John Sealey

Great climb, crux was thin and exposed, a bit of mixed climbing. Chimney towards the end was good.
Andy Hewison - 2nd - 04/Mar/13 with Pete Jackson, Mark Chadwick

radioshed - AltLd O/S - 03/Mar/13 with dave s

David Stevens - AltLd O/S - 03/Mar/13 with Matt Craig

Hidden - AltLd O/S - 02/Mar/13

Uisdean hawthorn - 02/Mar/13

Hidden - AltLd - Mar/13

jamesturnbull - AltLd - Mar/13 with aiden

Guy Wilson - Mar/13 with Plum

Hidden - AltLd - 27/Feb/13

Fantastic!!
dan gibson - Lead O/S - 27/Feb/13 with helen gibson

.. not quite the direct route up the face..led the basin pitch only.. at downclimb and traverse, went too far right and continued up Slav route, which had rubbish belays and pro in upper section, quite scary in the dark, but an unforgettable adventure!!
Helen Gibson - 2nd O/S - 27/Feb/13 with dan

the first 4 or 5 pitches of Orion then switched to Slav Route after the traverse and finished up the icy chimney to the back right of the tower. Good link up. Blue sky day.
stratandrew - AltLd O/S - 27/Feb/13 with Gareth Williams

Linked to Slav route
gw3285 - AltLd - 27/Feb/13

Superb. Never desperately hard, but it's a huge route so fully worth the (V,5). We did it in 9 pitches.
Wee Davie - AltLd O/S - 26/Feb/13 with Gary Gray

Perfect day.
Liam Ingram - AltLd O/S - 26/Feb/13 with Ally Rocke

In excellent condition - unforgettable day!
allyrocke - AltLd O/S - 26/Feb/13 with Liam Ingram

Very stepped out but still a brilliant brilliant place to be! Bottom half to ourselves then caught up with others. Topped out with Orion rising over the crest...
tomdude - AltLd O/S - 26/Feb/13 with Rich Abel

wheelsucker - AltLd - 26/Feb/13 with David Crawford

Hidden - AltLd - 26/Feb/13

Hidden - Lead - 25/Feb/13

after hadrian's - had the face to ourselves (you just need to start at 2pm)
robertmichaeladams - AltLd - 24/Feb/13 with Ben Wallace

Hidden - Lead - 24/Feb/13

Outstanding
DPaul - AltLd O/S - 23/Feb/13 with mike barnard

Hidden - AltLd O/S - 23/Feb/13

The Grist - AltLd O/S - 23/Feb/13 with Nick Allsop

Just over 4 hrs, awesome route
Adam Booth - AltLd O/S - 23/Feb/13 with Murdo

Hidden - AltLd - 23/Feb/13

Diggler - AltLd O/S - 22/Feb/13 with jonah

http://www.masterplan-photography.co.uk/2013/02/orion-face-direct
Foxy - AltLd O/S - 22/Feb/13 with Nick Russell, Alex Winter

Alex Winter - AltLd O/S - 22/Feb/13 with Nick and Alastair

First on the face, moved efficiently as a 3. Excellent conditions, and the climb lived up to expectations!
Nick Russell - AltLd O/S - 22/Feb/13 with Alex, Alastair

Simon Allcock - 2nd O/S - 21/Feb/13 with Wilki

Fantastic route
atch - 21/Feb/13 with James T

Alpine start. Amazing day. Amazing route. Amazing conditions. Climbed in less than 4 and half hours. Best day on the Ben ever.
alifin - 2nd - 19/Feb/13 with Mike Pescod, Aidan Roe

Tom Campbell - Lead O/S - Feb/13

greglad - Feb/13

Hidden - 2012

Hidden - AltLd - 28/Mar/11

Had a go. Found the first pitch to not be complete / in my ability.
joeydurkin - AltLd dnf - 25/Mar/11 with Mark P

Another working day. Traffic on the crux pitch is starting to take it's toll, as ice is becoming quite thin and detached.
Ken Applegate - AltLd - 19/Mar/11 with Parminder

Fantastic route, lived up to expectations and then some! Not technically hard for a V as the ice conditions were pretty good but it just kept coming! The crux consisted of a few slightly tricky mixed moves on the traverse pitch (once I got on the right line - initially traversed along what seemed an obvious sloping snow ledge but that was too low and took me too near to Zero, so had to reverse and reconsider). The only disappointment was that we didn't have much visibility for most of the time. Su did very well, particularly considering that her foot was in increasing pain. The 4+ parties backing up behind us must have been cursing us but first come, first served! Soloed P1 (approach pitch), Phil led P2 (a short steep section on good hooks), I P3 through first snowfield and a steeper bit of ice, Phil P4 through continuation shownfield, I P5 crux traverse and up steepish ice, easy groudn and a tricky mixed groove, Phil P6 icy grooves, I P7 icy slab with steep exit into large icy chimney (everything was icy!), Phil P8 out of chimney and up easier ground, I P9 direct to the top through couple of tricky mixed sections (route meant to go diagonally right up easy ground). Up at 2am, started walk in 3.30, started route 7.30, topped out 6.20, headtorches out going down Red Burn, megabog slog across from the lochan, back in NF car park 10.20, 19 hour day!
Misha - AltLd O/S - 19/Mar/11 with Su, Phil

What a lot of route! 9 long pitches. Up at 2am, walking in from 3.30. Lots of snow all the way. On route 7.30. Topped out 18.30. Back to car 22.30 - long day. Climbing straight forward but always better than Point Five. Excellent neve meant gear a bit poor - 1 decent rock belay on whole route, rest a variety of good to poor screws. Su with bad foot so Misha and I alt lead. I got big ice on P2, Misha the traverse (thin to start but good hooks - 5), I the chimney, Misha straightened the top to take in some steep mixed steps on top pitch. Slow but not bad for a 3some and Su on 6th winter climb.
philhilo - AltLd O/S - 19/Mar/11 with su, misha

Hidden - AltLd - 19/Mar/11

Hidden - 2nd - 19/Mar/11

Hidden - AltLd - 17/Mar/11

simondunf - AltLd O/S - 17/Mar/11 with beau

Guiding day. Stunning day on the mountain, with very calm weather and amazing views all day. Route is in good condition, crux pitch is a bit thin, but fine.
Ken Applegate - Lead - 16/Mar/11 with Dominic

A wild day! Had to climb mainly blind due to spindrift.
Heike - 12/Mar/11 with Martin Fitzsimons

Simon K - 2nd - 07/Mar/11 with Mike Pescod

Hidden - AltLd O/S - 05/Mar/11

lots of ice fall on lower pitches. fucking spicy, but amazing!
Ginger McGrath - AltLd O/S - 05/Mar/11 with phil emerson, emily roo

machars - AltLd - 05/Mar/11 with Bjorn Verduijn

Hidden - AltLd rpt - 05/Mar/11

Scotsken - Mar/11

Pete Graham - AltLd - 27/Feb/11 with Malcolm Scott

Hidden - AltLd dnf - 21/Jan/11

Crucial traverse wasn't in condition so we bailed into Zero Gully
AMarchant - AltLd dnf - 21/Jan/11 with Ally Hurst

R2D2 - 2011

adie84 - 2011

Hidden - 2011

Hidden - 2011

alkira - 2011

Hidden - Lead - 2011

Hidden - 2011

Hidden - 2011

Hidden - 2011

Condition was marginal and misty, but still a great day out.
jamestheyip - AltLd O/S - 08/Apr/10 with Ben Taylor, Carlos

Dave Thompson - AltLd O/S - 07/Apr/10 with Michael Stephenson

Hidden - 2nd - 01/Apr/10

Wanted to do this for years!
Tim Sparrow - AltLd - Apr/10 with Ned

Hidden - AltLd O/S - 29/Mar/10

Lead even pitches including crux traverse. Beautiful day, amazing positions on the route.
niallk - AltLd O/S - 29/Mar/10 with Willie

First on the route, felt like we had it all to ourselves through apparently many teams below. I lead all 10 pitches, mentally shattered by the top. I think we may have done a pitch of the directissima after the crux for a pitch. We also took the first variation right of the traditional finish that traverses back onto the original line at the final bend back right. Amazing day out.
Somerset swede basher - Lead O/S - 29/Mar/10 with Jon Miles

First experience of Grade V. Brilliant Route.
The Mountain Goat - 2nd O/S - 29/Mar/10 with Dom Sellers

Bloody amazing climb. The ice was awesome. Long day though.
Ally Baba - AltLd O/S - 27/Mar/10 with R. Mcmurry

For me this was a big step up in terms of length and commitment. The climbing is high quality and great fun but never hard (we had amazing ice and neve the whole way). However there is a lot of it. Weather was a bit unpleasant, lots of spindrift low down. Could have done without the facial hotaches. Really tired towards the top but a great day, one of the best!
Bart Shaw - AltLd O/S - 27/Mar/10 with Tim

Hidden - AltLd O/S - 27/Mar/10

Great condition, 1st time placements the whole way. Pretty wild conditions!
bullwinkle - AltLd O/S - 27/Mar/10 with Bart Shaw

Good conditions - plenty of folk enjoying them!
Jules C - 27/Mar/10

Hidden - 26/Mar/10

Hidden - 2nd - 23/Mar/10

R0bbie - AltLd O/S - 21/Mar/10 with Henning

http://graniteandice.blogspot.com/2010/03/orion-direct-to-end-it-all.html
hwackerhage - AltLd - 21/Mar/10 with Robbie Miller

Cracking route, great position, perect nic.
DuncanR - AltLd - 20/Mar/10

Traversed way too far on crux pitch into Slav route, followed this to a dead end 3m from the top then rapped into zero. Adventure!
david morse - AltLd - 13/Mar/10 with ben anderson

Awesome route. Climbing never too hard, but protection was poor. V,4.
Martin Haworth - Lead O/S - 13/Mar/10 with Andy

Ben1983 - AltLd - 13/Mar/10

Great day out but knackering. After traverse pitch above basin ended up following preceding parties up Slav route finish; unfortunately last 10ft was unclimbable slab(ice ran out!)so had to abseil into Zero gully to finish. Heinous conditions on top.
Andrew Sloan - AltLd O/S - 13/Mar/10

Jonathan Lagoe - UKC - AltLd - 12/Mar/10 with Pete Whillance

gregor - 12/Mar/10

Hidden - 12/Mar/10

Climbed in 9 pitches, had the route to ourselves, in fantastic condition. Crux pitch was fairly straight forward today.
Ken Applegate - AltLd - 10/Mar/10 with Scott Kirkhope

sadams - AltLd - 08/Mar/10 with Eric Hildrew

A sublime route. Not huge amounts of gear and some suspect belays but there was plenty of good ice including on the crux. My favourite winter route so far, only a winter traverse of the Cullin could knock it into second place. We were pleased we got up early as we ended up in front of the masses who turned up after us!
Andrew Barker - Lead O/S - 08/Mar/10 with John Barker

With RK. Delays due to other parties. Last three pitched in dark. Mostly very good ice except a short section in the pitch above the crux pitch. Lead this by head torch light. A smashing day!
Limestone-Lad - AltLd O/S - 08/Mar/10

Route in great condition with bomber neve throughout.
Big Lee - AltLd O/S - 06/Mar/10 with Peter Flanagan

Hidden - AltLd - 03/Mar/10

Hidden - AltLd - 03/Mar/10

AB1965 - 2nd - 03/Mar/10

Hidden - AltLd O/S - 03/Mar/10

very lucky - probably as easy as its gets very fine
bob johnson - 02/Mar/10 with Mike Pescod, Al Borrett

jmaskill - 2nd - Mar/10

gripped01 - AltLd - Mar/10 with Mike Palmer

led with daz lemal, beut day out
spoony84 - AltLd O/S - Mar/10

Hidden - AltLd - Mar/10

luckyjim - AltLd - Mar/09 with D Helm

Captain Solo - AltLd - 19/Apr/08 with Ewan

Richard White - AltLd O/S - 16/Apr/08 with Rimon Than

lberry - 2nd - 12/Apr/08

Hidden - 06/Apr/08

Brown - AltLd O/S - 05/Apr/08 with Innes

With the direct start. Awesome day out!
Kevin Avery - Lead O/S - 29/Mar/08 with John Shepherd

centurion05 - AltLd - Mar/08

softish ice conditions
Grezza - Lead - 18/Feb/08

innes - 2008

Best winter day ever!
HIGHTOWER - AltLd O/S - 24/Mar/07 with Tim

sgl - AltLd - 20/Mar/07 with gaz

gaz.marshall - AltLd O/S - 20/Mar/07 with sgl

akhughes - AltLd O/S - Mar/07 with Steptoe

Jamie B - Lead - Mar/07 with Ed Morrison

timmy-ts - 2007

keith leonard - Lead - 2007 with wife

Hidden - 2007

GuyM - AltLd - Apr/06 with si

creag - 2006

Hidden - AltLd O/S - 28/Mar/04

Hidden - AltLd O/S - Jan/03

Hidden - AltLd - Mar/02

Gudge - AltLd - Mar/02 with Gareth Hughes

Dave Kerr - AltLd - 24/Feb/02 with Steve Wells

Hidden - AltLd dnf - 04/May/01

frost - AltLd - Mar/00 with J Hubbard

As good as the hype, great exposed position, bettered only by Psychedelic Wall or Astral Highway for position.....
Chad123 - AltLd - Feb/00 with Jonny M

mark mcgowan01 - 1993 with Alex Runciman

Hidden - 1990

scree - Feb/87 with Dave H

Hidden - AltLd - Apr/86

Hidden - Lead - 08/Feb/86

Gezzer - AltLd - 1984 with Max Rock

Got best pitches.Very well covered, supurb conditions
David Smith - AltLd - 23/Feb/83 with Al Bennett

mark-abz - AltLd - 16/Feb/83 with Kev H