KMC Ben Nevis meet Winter 2027, 5 nights arriving at CIC Sunday 7^th March departing CIC Friday 11^th March.

The meet at CIC will be bookended by a couple of nights in other huts both before and after. These will be treated quite flexibly to make the most of conditions and opportunities.

We have eight places at the CIC of which two are allocated to Andy and Gareth, joint meet leaders. The meet is now open for applications strictly for full members, applying as a climbing pair, date tbc. Closing date for applications is Friday 11^th September 2026. Decisions on places will be made about ten days after the closing date. Individual climbers may not apply. Please read on for how to apply for a place.

Ben Nevis North Face

The CIC is positioned in such a way that winter climbing on the world class North Face is the only significant venue accessible from the hut. There are only a small handful of easier grade I and II routes accessible including some classics like CMD arete and Ledge Route – and several of the major gullies which often have significant avalanche danger both in ascent and descent.

Experience

You should be able to demonstrate a mountaineering CV, which shows that you have the necessary technical climbing skills to lead Scottish Winter routes as well as all the other vital skills necessary to undertake Scottish Mountaineering safely and responsibly. This experience will have been built up over several winter seasons, across several climbing venues and in a range of conditions and might include:.

*  Leading winter routes at Scottish grade III or above

*  Continental ice climbing (e.g. Norway)

*  Alpine or Greater Ranges mountaineering

*  Ski mountaineering

*  Classic Scottish mountaineering routes at grade II in a range of locations

*  Demonstrated commitment to the Club's winter climbing programme

Due to the nature of winter climbing on the North Face of Ben Nevis, greater weight will be placed on leading winter routes at Scottish grade III or above, but all the other factors listed are also relevant and will be considered. Feel free to contact one of the meet leaders if you are unsure if your experience matches expectations for this meet.

Pairs and How to Apply

Due to the nature of winter climbing on the North Face of Ben Nevis, we are inviting applications from pairs of climbers. Climbers here need to have established a good level of mutual trust in their climbing partner. To register interest in the meet, you and your climbing partner should submit your brief climbing CV’s as a pair, not as individuals. If you would like a recommended format for this, contact the meet leaders. Such CV’s are useful if ever you need to apply for a place on an expedition or similar. Email your CV’s to  Gareth and Andy by 5pm Friday 11^th September.

Team Composition

A trip to the CIC hut can be treated as a mini-expedition, so the team of eight will form a cohesive group, able to get on in close quarters for 5 days and with a good knowledge of each other's personal strengths. The meet leaders will seek to ensure an appropriate selection of pairs to make up the team from those who apply, based on the experience laid out in the CVs and prior experience of people's contributions to the  Club's winter climbing community. This will not be a first-come-first-served process.

 Drop outs

If your partner drops out for whatever reason, the meet leaders will collaborate with you to try and find a suitable partner from within the club, who must also meet the minimum criteria. If you cannot find another partner, you may ask the other pairs if you can join as a third person. However, be aware that other pairs are not bound to accept you as a third.

Payment

Once the places are allocated, payment of £140 for all five nights (£28 pp pn) will be due in full within 7 days. There are no refunds for illness, weather, or other issues.

Weather and Conditions

The weather on the Ben can be very fickle, and it is not unusual to be in a situation where only two of the 5 days are viable – and it may be that we only spend a couple of days up there before bailing out!! This has happened before (several times), and anyone signing up should be fully aware and understanding if other pairs decide to bail or change plans due to concerns over conditions. There are no refunds for poor weather!

Andy and Gareth