Watch Dave MacLeod soloing the Orion Face Direct on Ben Nevis in Scotland

The video of Scottish mountaineer Dave MacLeod soloing the classic Orion Face Direct on Ben Nevis, one of the longest and most famous winter routes in Great Britain.

Orion Face Direct is considered one of the great classics, not only on Ben Nevis, but in all of Scotland. First ascended on 13 February 1960 by Jimmy Marshall and Robin Smith, it was hailed as one of the hardest winter climbs of the step cutting era. In the intervening years standards have obviously risen dramatically, the route is no longer cutting-edge and it has also been soloed on various different occasions, nevertheless it still retains all of its "uniquely Scottish" feel. As can be seen in this video by one of Scotland’s foremost mountaineers, Dave MacLeod, who after waiting patiently for the right conditions climbed the route solo last March.

Links: www.davemacleod.com, La Sportiva

NEWS / Related news:

10.12.2020
Dave MacLeod, Iain Small establish Nevermore on Ben Nevis, Scotland
Scottish climbers Dave MacLeod and Iain Small have made the first ascent of the mixed climb Nevermore on Ben Nevis, Scotland.

04.01.2014
Ben Nevis winter climbing: Point Five Gully and Tower Ridge
Quintessential winter climbing in Scotland: Ben Nevis and the classic routes Point Five Gully and Tower Ridge introduced by the Mountain Guide Mike Pescod.

18.03.2013
Important new winter additions to Ben Nevis
Two new winter climbs have been added to Ben Nevis in Scotland: Deadly Presence (VIII,7, Iain Small, Doug Hawthorn) and Shooting Star (VI,6, Robin Clothier, Richard Bentley).

26.02.2013
MacLeod adds two new winter climbs to Ben Nevis
Dave MacLeod has made the first ascent of two new winter climbs on Ben Nevis in Scotland, White Noise M10+/M11 and The Snotter VIII,8.

06.12.2012
New Ben Nevis testpiece by Greg Boswell
On 29/11/2012 Greg Boswell and Adam Russell made the first ascent of Tomahawk Crack (VIII,9) on Ben Nevis in Scotland.

21.02.2012
Don't Die of Ignorance, Greg Boswell video on Ben Nevis
The trailer of the first repeat of Don't Die of Ignorance, XI, 11 Ben Nevis carried out by Greg Boswell.

31.01.2012
Don't die of Ignorance, first repeat on Ben Nevis by Boswell and Dunn
On 29/01/2012 Greg Boswell and James Dunn made the coveted second ascent of Don't die of Ignorance, XI,11, Ben Nevis, Scotland.

21.11.2011
Ben Nevis and the future of Number Four Gully marker
The aluminium marker at the top of Number Four Gully on Ben Nevis is being reviewed by the land owners, the John Muir Trust.

07.02.2011
Ines Papert in Scotland, new Ben Nevis and Cairngorms winter climbs
During a week winter climbing in Scotland, Ines Papert and Charly Fritzer have established Triple X, VIII,8 on Ben Nevis and Bavarinthia IX, 9 at Coire an Lochain in the Cairngorms.

08.12.2008
First winter ascents on Ben Nevis and Lake District
Perfect winter conditions in Great Britain have resulted in a series of first ascents on Ben Nevis in Scotland and in the Lake District in England.

01.08.2008
Dave Macleod frees Echo Wall, Ben Nevis
On 28/07/2008 Dave Macleod made the first ascent of his project on Echo Wall, Scotland, his hardest lead to date.

23.03.2008
Dave Macleod 8c solo at Margalef, Don't Die of Ignorance XI,11 first ascent on Ben Nevis
On 12 March Dave Macleod from Scotland made a solo ascent of Darwin Dixit 8c at Margalef Spain, while on 16 March he made the first ascent of one of Scotland's hardest winter routes, Don't Die of Ignorance XI,11 on Ben Nevis.

17.12.2007
Ben Nevis reveals The Secret X 10
Andy Turner, Steve Ashworth and Viv Scott have made an on-sight first ascent of "The Secret" X 10 on Ben Nevis.