Once higher up and getting closer to the Camp West area, we decided to adapt our plans to conditions. The blowing snow was loading the Camp West area in a big way and we wanted to avoid the very top of the Gun-Barrels as we weren’t really thrilled with the idea of dropping into the line straight off the ridge. Instead, we opted to traverse in about 100m below the top of the line. As we ripped skins and started to traverse into the line, another party passed us continuing up higher the ridge. I hate having parties above me, but sometimes it’s unavoidable.

As soon as we got off the ridge and into the trees, the winds disappeared and we discovered some incredible snow. There are two Gun-Barrels and once we’d traversed to the first one, we discovered that it had been well and truly tracked out the day before. It wasn’t the end of the world - wind had filled the tracks back in so it would still be a nice, but choppy line.