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Two extremes on The Ben (Glen Nevis/Day4)

PostPosted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 1:53 am
by Gavsco
Apologies for the lateness of this report, but better late etc, etc.....

After a fitfull sleep on the Friday night (I was woken at approx 1am, by a helicopter fliying over the campsite, and it seemed to be going up and down the Glen till after 3am when I must have drifted off again!) we woke to a lovely morning! This was going to be our day for the Ring of Steall, but because of the poor forecast for Saturday we'd attempted, and failed on that the previous day...another story, and an earlier report!
What to do on our last day in Glen Nevis???
With The Ben on our doorstep, so to speak, it seemed obvious, even though we'd dragged ourselves up the tourist path about a year ago, anyway....off we went!
The poor forecast hadn't reached us yet so we set off in good spirits, crossing the shoogly bridge and headed off up the tourist path.
There's LOADS of reports on this walk so I won't bore you with yet another one as it would be pretty much the same as the rest.
The views were pretty good, better than the last time we went up, there was also added interest as it was Ben Nevis Race day! It wasn't long before we were being overtaken by the long line of runners on their way up, and then back down, the path.
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The view up Glen Nevis to Sgurr a'Mhaim, Stob Ban and Mullach nan Coirean.
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Helicopter heading to the summit, the same one as the previous night??
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Red Burn
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Part of the never ending conveyer belt of walkers up and down the path!
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The Red Burn crossing...that'll be us half way then!!

By the time we'd reached the Red Burn, I'd already finished both bottles of water (although I still had a bottle of Lucozade left!) so I decided to throw caution to the wind, and filled the empties from the refreshing cold water tumbling down to the path, something I've tried to avoid when I'm out walking, however, I'm still here, in good health, 3 months later, so I guess it was ok!
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The runners started to appear as we started on the zigzags.
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Looking down to the Lochan and the path, the runners making their way up!
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More runners!
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...and some more, and a couple of dogs!
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He's either running up backwards, or on his way back down! What... already???
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.....and still they come!!
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Summit in sight!
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Gardyloo Gully
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The summit, with some dark clouds coming over!
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Carn mor Dearg, might do that route the next time!

We'd been lucky with the weather on the ascent, but once on the summit, the rain started, so it was on with the waterproofs...a couple of pics...a quick bite...and then back to the path and the knee jarring descent!
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The long path down!

The descent was pretty uneventful, other than getting stuck behind groups of walkers more leg-weary than me (Neil had kicked into overdrive and had stormed ahead!) I eventually met up with him where the path forked off to the right, and the Ben Nevis Inn.
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The best supper ever! (as long as you're not on a diet!)

We made our way back to the campsite, freshened up, had a quick, well earned supper from the campsite chip van....the BEST chips and curry sauce...EVER! Then onto the campsite bar for a few well deserved pints! The end of a crackin' few days on the hills, already looking forward to returning next year and completing the Ring of Steall, and hopefully many others!
PS. The winner of the race completed it in the unbelievable time (for me anyway!) of 1hour 30 mins and 6secs (Well done to Finlay Wild from Lochaber Athletic Club!) my time was about 7 hrs and 15mins ( I didn't check the seconds I'm afraid!)...hence the two extremes of the title!