Thanks, Meadowbank and FJJP
K52, you continue to assert that a climb to SALT was an option. IT WAS NOT.
Without delving into my files (I haven't time just now) I believe that the local SALT was 2800ft and the SALT for the next leg was 5900ft.
By any yardstick available to the crew, they would be working to a max Alt of 2500ft (the 4 Deg C isotherm)
If you are going to defend the finding of Gross Negligence, words like 'likely' have no place in your argument. They either committed gross negligence beyond any doubt whatsoever, or the finding was wrong. SIMPLE