As a summer mountain leader you should only use a rope in an emergency. This is what we were practising today, emergency rope work to safeguard group members and the leader on steep broken ground. We were on Meall Cumhainn above Steall in Glen Nevis and it was another beautiful autumn day with a cold easterly wind. The last few days have been cold enough to make some ice on the high crags of Ben Nevis and the rocks were slightly rimed as well. It's all change for the weekend though with strong warm winds coming in on Friday, just in time for our two day camping expedition!