Jubilee Sunday - Aonachs / CMD / Ben Nevis
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 6:50 pm
Munros: Aonach Mor, Aonach Beag, Carn Mor Dearg, Ben Nevis
Distance: 27km
Ascent: 2,122m
Time: 12hrs
Attendees: me
Day 2 of my trip to Fort William/Spean Bridge – spent yesterday in the Grey Corries & co with the plan for today to cover Ben Nevis and neighbours. I had looked at various route options – starting from the south would mean a long walk (or cycle) back to the car so I opted to go from the north.
Parked in the Nevis Range car park and headed SE towards Aonach Mor. There are various MTB tracks which I used to get out of the forest area – a bit of toing and froing to get the right track but got there in the end. I reckoned that leaving early before the chairlift/gondola started would mean that there wouldn’t be any downhill MTBers to avoid.
I kept to the downhill MTB track almost to the top gondola station
Then just walked up under the ski lifts until I got to the top of the plateau from where it was an easy walk to the summit cairn
Met a guy who was running between the summits – definitely not for me !
Cold wind so I put on another layer and headed off for Aonach Beag
Again straightforward enough with a track up to the very barren summit
Took quite a few photos looking over to CMD and Ben Nevis
Then headed northwards again down Aonach Beag. Couldn’t find a track down to the foot of CMD so had to go steeply down the grassy hillside – some rocky and wet sections which seemed to take a lot longer than I’d planned.
Looking up to CMD
Got to the bottom of CMD and found the start of the uphill track
Spoke to a couple of walkers who were trying to find the start of the track up Aonach Beag – none of us could see the start though and I explained how I’d descended.
I then headed up the rocky ridge to the top of CMD
The weather had worsened with some snow flurries, stronger winds and lower visibility but it passed after a wee while
Got to the summit of CMD – stopped a while for food, spoke with some other walkers and took more photos
Then headed off for the arête. Part way across there was an injured walker with a larger group being helped by the rescue services – fortunately he was able to get up and walk afterwards. Needed to use my hands quite a bit but it wasn’t as exposed as I’d thought it would be. I did get passed by a couple of other walkers going somewhat faster than me though.
Getting to the end of the arête, then started the climb up to Ben Nevis. Basically a boulder field but there were hints of tracks on and off.
Looking back
Got to the top and couldn’t believe my eyes – there were so many people up there and more arriving every minute. Still quite a lot of snow on the top. Stopped for quite a while for food, photos and views.
The touristy photo
And a few more
I then headed back down the tourist path – still lots of people ascending
At the lochan I branched off northwards to head down to pick up the track to the CIC hut followed by the long walk back to the Nevis Range car park. The midges were out when I got back to the car as the wind dropped.
Enjoyable couple of days – but still can’t believe the number of people on top of Ben Nevis !
Distance: 27km
Ascent: 2,122m
Time: 12hrs
Attendees: me
Day 2 of my trip to Fort William/Spean Bridge – spent yesterday in the Grey Corries & co with the plan for today to cover Ben Nevis and neighbours. I had looked at various route options – starting from the south would mean a long walk (or cycle) back to the car so I opted to go from the north.
Parked in the Nevis Range car park and headed SE towards Aonach Mor. There are various MTB tracks which I used to get out of the forest area – a bit of toing and froing to get the right track but got there in the end. I reckoned that leaving early before the chairlift/gondola started would mean that there wouldn’t be any downhill MTBers to avoid.
I kept to the downhill MTB track almost to the top gondola station
Then just walked up under the ski lifts until I got to the top of the plateau from where it was an easy walk to the summit cairn
Met a guy who was running between the summits – definitely not for me !
Cold wind so I put on another layer and headed off for Aonach Beag
Again straightforward enough with a track up to the very barren summit
Took quite a few photos looking over to CMD and Ben Nevis
Then headed northwards again down Aonach Beag. Couldn’t find a track down to the foot of CMD so had to go steeply down the grassy hillside – some rocky and wet sections which seemed to take a lot longer than I’d planned.
Looking up to CMD
Got to the bottom of CMD and found the start of the uphill track
Spoke to a couple of walkers who were trying to find the start of the track up Aonach Beag – none of us could see the start though and I explained how I’d descended.
I then headed up the rocky ridge to the top of CMD
The weather had worsened with some snow flurries, stronger winds and lower visibility but it passed after a wee while
Got to the summit of CMD – stopped a while for food, spoke with some other walkers and took more photos
Then headed off for the arête. Part way across there was an injured walker with a larger group being helped by the rescue services – fortunately he was able to get up and walk afterwards. Needed to use my hands quite a bit but it wasn’t as exposed as I’d thought it would be. I did get passed by a couple of other walkers going somewhat faster than me though.
Getting to the end of the arête, then started the climb up to Ben Nevis. Basically a boulder field but there were hints of tracks on and off.
Looking back
Got to the top and couldn’t believe my eyes – there were so many people up there and more arriving every minute. Still quite a lot of snow on the top. Stopped for quite a while for food, photos and views.
The touristy photo
And a few more
I then headed back down the tourist path – still lots of people ascending
At the lochan I branched off northwards to head down to pick up the track to the CIC hut followed by the long walk back to the Nevis Range car park. The midges were out when I got back to the car as the wind dropped.
Enjoyable couple of days – but still can’t believe the number of people on top of Ben Nevis !