Carn Mor Dearg
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 9:07 pm
Another beautiful morning and a weather window not be missed... A fairly late start today after the five Fannaichs of the day before and the 400 mile drive that went with it...
So just a 100 miles today to Fort William to pop up Carn Mor Dearg...
Couldn't resist stopping on the way to take a snap of Rannoch Moor; this is where Scotland really begins...
And it's followed by the Buch; there's no finer country than Scotland I swear it...
We're soon at the North Face Car Park; and pretty much set straight off... It's a decent wee climb out of the forest and Scraggles is off at a pace; punishing me for the Fannaichs clearly!! It's going to be hot work today but we only stop for two mini breaks on the ascent of Carn Mor Dearg... Mainly to take on fluids as we're sweating a lot...
The views of the North Face get better and better with height... I've not seen it before; so am excited... Is this where mountaineering all began? My mind wonders to the sheer mass of it; the steepness of it; and the many many people that have sadly lost their lives to it...
The snow firms up around 200 metres (height wise) from the summit and so it's on with the crampons...
And before long the summit is in sight...
We stop for a few shots and take our time on this last part as it's just beautiful with the Aonach's off to the left and The North Face to the right...
And finally my first sight of what has to be one of the most iconic views in Scotland; or indeed the world of mountaineering... The CMD Arete; could it look any better?
There are climbers all over The North Face... In places I fancy I'll never venture too haha... It's quite a sight though and we spend ages just watching them climb up some extremely challenging bits of rock!
We have some lunch and just absorb the views...
And look across to Aonach Beag where we'd been a couple of days before...
And across to the Mamores... I can't wait to walk The Ring of Steall again...
We won't be walking the Arete today... It's tempting... Very tempting... But we've a big walk tomorrow; and need to keep something in the tank for it... So after absorbing the views for as long as we choose to; we head off down via the ascent route...
Another gorgeous days with great company; some unbelievable views; and the two of the finest sights in Scotland; The North Face; and the CMD Arete... Superb
And the stats...
And the route...
So just a 100 miles today to Fort William to pop up Carn Mor Dearg...
Couldn't resist stopping on the way to take a snap of Rannoch Moor; this is where Scotland really begins...
And it's followed by the Buch; there's no finer country than Scotland I swear it...
We're soon at the North Face Car Park; and pretty much set straight off... It's a decent wee climb out of the forest and Scraggles is off at a pace; punishing me for the Fannaichs clearly!! It's going to be hot work today but we only stop for two mini breaks on the ascent of Carn Mor Dearg... Mainly to take on fluids as we're sweating a lot...
The views of the North Face get better and better with height... I've not seen it before; so am excited... Is this where mountaineering all began? My mind wonders to the sheer mass of it; the steepness of it; and the many many people that have sadly lost their lives to it...
The snow firms up around 200 metres (height wise) from the summit and so it's on with the crampons...
And before long the summit is in sight...
We stop for a few shots and take our time on this last part as it's just beautiful with the Aonach's off to the left and The North Face to the right...
And finally my first sight of what has to be one of the most iconic views in Scotland; or indeed the world of mountaineering... The CMD Arete; could it look any better?
There are climbers all over The North Face... In places I fancy I'll never venture too haha... It's quite a sight though and we spend ages just watching them climb up some extremely challenging bits of rock!
We have some lunch and just absorb the views...
And look across to Aonach Beag where we'd been a couple of days before...
And across to the Mamores... I can't wait to walk The Ring of Steall again...
We won't be walking the Arete today... It's tempting... Very tempting... But we've a big walk tomorrow; and need to keep something in the tank for it... So after absorbing the views for as long as we choose to; we head off down via the ascent route...
Another gorgeous days with great company; some unbelievable views; and the two of the finest sights in Scotland; The North Face; and the CMD Arete... Superb
And the stats...
And the route...