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It was end of August 2010 when my son Patrik climbed Ben Nevis with me for the 1st time...
He was 12 years old in 2010 and I remember that he was always asking "where is the summit ?" when we reached some top - horizon point and there was another ascent...and another...and another...
Patrik and Ben Nevis 2010:Yes, he was struggling a little bit
, but then another years, always when he came to visit me during the school summer holiday from The Czech Republic, he always enjoyed the walk up and he always wanted to climb the Ben when he was in Scotland...so it became a tradition to climb Ben Nevis with him almost every Year
Patrik and Ben Nevis 2011:Patrik and Ben Nevis 2013:This time he is an adult - aged 18 and he came visit me together with his girlfriend Alice
Before they came, he still kept asking me if we can climb Ben Nevis again - also with her and he was interested to try the more adventurous route via CMD arete as he saw some of my photos from my previous trips there and he really wanted the views of Ben Nevis from the nicer - rocky side
Well, the day came and by the weather forecast I chose Thursday as the best possible day for it
Alarm set for 02:00 am, we started our journey shortly after 03:00 am from home. Stoped many times for some morning's shots on the way ( Rannoch Moor...Glencoe...), we arrived to the Ben Nevis Inn car park just before 06:00 am and then started or walk at 06:05 am.
They looked full of expectations.......
it was the 4th time Ben Nevis for Patrik ( 1st via CMD ), 1st time for Alice and 17th time for me ( 3rd time via CMD ).Ben Nevis Inn car park early morning
Warming up !
Glen Nevis, Sgurr a'Mhaim and Stob Ban
Stronger wind started behind this corner...as usual
Jackets on !
Turned from the usual tourist path...towards North Face
The view open for us...the path down...then over the stream and steepy up - to Carn Mor Dearg
Castle Ridge
the CMD arete ahead
Crossing the water
Mountain Rescue CIC Hut
Local resident
Tower Ridge and The North East Buttress
Coire na Ciste
On the hard way up
The CMD arete from the slope of CMD
They are somewhere there, climbing up...
Yes, they are ! Checked by ZOOM
...a wee ZOOM again
Closer to the summit of CMD
Towards North, there is the usual ( and more gentle ) way if you chose the North Face car park...we climbed the steepy slope on the left as we wanted to finish at Glen Nevis side
Patrik and Alice ZOOMed climbing up...
...nearly there...
...and resting on the summit of Carn Mor Dearg
Towards the misty ridge
...and towards North
Ben Nevis behind still in the mist
Self timer
The view clearer now
Nice to see them happy
1st Munro done and time to continue...Ben Nevis via the CMD ...
The CMD arete
Looking back down - the pathless & very steepy way we came from
Descending Carn Mor Dearg
Ben Nevis clearer...a little bit
On the ridge
Aonach Beag on the East
The view towards Mamores mountains
Ben Nevis almost clear
The valley we came from
Enjoying the ridge views
Me on the ridge, Ben Nevis in the background
Looking back towards CMD over the arete...
...and over the Glen
Mamores
The end of the ridge and the Cairn - post
The ridge, Carn Mor Deag and Aonach Mor & Aonach Beag behind
CMD again
Ascending Ben Nevis
Red roses delivered - in memorial...I will never forget !
Ben Nevis summit looks busy
Me with Patrik on the summit
Patrik and Alice on the summit
Busy place in this time of Year
Clear view and the crowds going up
really different from the quiet CMD arete route
Towards Castle Ridge
Raven enjoying the views
Patrik & Alice enjoying themselves
...and myself enjoying Ben Nevis
Towards Fort William
The endless zig-zag tourist path and the crowds up and down...
Corner view towards Mamores
Stob Ban and Mullach nan Coirean over Glen Nevis
Meall an t-Suidhe and Lochan Meall nan t-Suidhe
The halfway waterfall
On the path down
Patrik's gesture says everything...they enjoyed !
Patrik made some nice panorama shots: