Alex W wrote:I'm not sure I favour dissing any of our mountains in Scotland and certainly not Nevis - the mightiest of them all. If you're half way up .5 gully in the depths of winter, the crowds at the top will be the last thing on your mind.
The sight of the CMD arete and the Northern Corrie is majestic. The sight of "The Ben" in every view from the hills around Loch Laggan is just a reminder of its omnipotence.
The fact is has a path to its summit which is without technical difficulty is a testament to the sense of inclusivity befitting the highest peak in Scotland.
OK, so I'm romanticising, but there's more to The Ben than the "tourist path" and you see what you want to see. But I agree, I would choose to climb it at a time and by a method which avoids the crowds.
Definitely agree in not dissing Nevis. Even the mountain track is OK as a descent route. The same thing's true about a lot of 'tourist' mountains: Ben Lomond, Coniston Old Man, Helvellyn, Snowdon etc. There are some great ways to climb all of these, and the tourist routes can be used as convenient ways down, often with better views in front than when used for ascent.