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As I look out of the window in February 2021 the snow is thick on the ground - at sea level, this winter is proving long, hard and beautiful. But the first snows of the winter started for us in mid October 2020, on a beautiful autumn dander up the Ben. I'd always thought we'd take the CMD Arret, but Covid and aging thought otherwise; in the summer we went up CMD so all that remained ws the Ben. To avoid the crowds we choose a good weather day mid-week in mid October and to be honest that worked well, it was lively without being crowded. We followed the standard mountain track and all credit to the Victorian sappers who built it, the gradient is gentle(ish) and the path robust. We started early (to avoid the crowds, but still met people coming down as we were going up
).
Early morning frost on the bridge at the start of the walk
And on the meadows by Nevis Water
The path to the youth hostel
Glen Nevis as the sun climbs higher
The well made path
The 'not quite halfway' Lochan
Looking southwest
We weren't alone but a camaraderie was developing with people we passed and who passed us as we all took photos and rest breaks
The Lochan again
and with a view to Corpach and Loch Eil
Loch Eil and Loch Linnhe
and down Loch Linnhe
The frost was now covering the boulders and the temperature had dropped markedly from that at the car park. The warning about the changes in the weather were illustrated not just by the change in temperature but by the descent of cloud leaving the stony plateau covered in frost and a very eerie light.
making the massive marker cairns seem like daylight struck trolls.
and spooking the unwary
and providing a snow covering fitting for Scotland's highest mountain
In the mist the ruins at the top took on an almost oriental appearance
Made it
No views but plenty of atmosphere. We had lunch and hung around until we started to get too cold to want to stay, but the mist just hung around with us, so we headed off
The mist started to clear as we got lower
Ring of Steall
Thoughtful pose
Glen Nevis
Water of Nevis looking downstream
and upstream
A Brilliant walk, no need to be contemptuous of this route it definitely packs its own punch especially with its climate. If you don't want crowds mid week in mid October was just fine.
