Hi there folks…firstly thanks for reading this post, given that it's not a route but just an inquiry about a route I thought it best to post it here.
I’ve searched the forums boards, and I think I am the first person to ask this question…(and therefore I am not duplicating information, wasting folks time)
Basically I was looking for some advice about climbing Ben Nevis in the summer months but doing it by walking up 5 finger gully, I’ve climbed the ben twice before (once from the main path and the other from the CMD arete) and I’ve always preferred walking up gully’s corries, etc (Coire na Tulaich on Buachaille Etive Mhor is better than Tower Ridge in my opinion) when compared to ridge walking, (this admittedly puts me in a big minority compared to most hillwalkers) and I thought this route would be quite interesting and enjoyable and also something a bit different, for what is a massively busy mountain by the other routes.
I have been looking at maps, satellite images from google, apple, Microsoft, even any YouTube videos of paragliders going down this route to get off the mountain, (and obviously the pictures that are available on the web, etc of the area around Five finger gully), and it genuinely seems to be easy enough up the top of the gully, (not that steep and a straight forward path onto the summit plateau) its more the start of the gully that seems steep and hard to do, hence why I was on here looking for information on this topic…
Obviously, I would be looking at doing this in the summer months (IF the Coronavirus pandemic allows it, but it might not be over at that point) when daylight is long and also far more importantly…minimum snow cover so that I can see the path as much as possible. And also hugely important to mention is that I WOULD BE DESCENDING THE NORMAL ROUTE AS ITS BY FAR THE SAFER AND 80% ACCIDENTS HAPPEN ON WAY DOWN!
So my only interest in the five finger gully walk is ONLY on the way up, as I felt it was something different and worthwhile investigating given I like areas like that on mountains.
If anyone can give me any advice on this who has more experience with this area of the mountain then that would be fantastic and much appreciated.
Thank you for reading.
Apologies if it was a bit long…