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Ben Nevis with beautifully clear skies!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 5:22 pm
by kibett
I was aiming for 20 Munros this year but so far have only bagged 15... This saddens me but Nevis was the biggie and had to be bagged by the end of 2010 so this has cheered me up no end! I usually only walk with my boyfriend and our three labradors but on this day we headed up with our friends, one of whom was bagging his first Munro (Well done to you Callum!)

We left chilly, wet Fife at 7.30am and reached Fort William for about 10.15am. We prepared ourselves and the dogs and set off from the Ben Nevis Inn at approx 10.45 after many photos and a pooper scoop session! (You can't miss out the practical stuff here :D)

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We made the ascent up the normal route taking in views of Steall Falls and the West Highland Way Path. Always a good conversation starter. At this point we are already noticing how bizarrely hot it is for October and strip down to one layer.

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By this point we're noticing a divide in the group, the newbies and the 'super fit' Stewart (with me keeping up with him for a change!) so we spend a fair bit of time waiting for the rest of the crew. Wouldn't have been a problem normally but there was a very large group of charity walkers and they were not keen on dogs. Bit of a problem when you have three of them running around, loving every minute of their climb. So Stewart and I crack on to the Half Way Lochan where we soak up the sun, enjoy the views and, oh yeah, do some press ups whilst we wait!

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When the others reach us we take in a spot of lunch with the views of the Loch. A well deserved energy boost preparing for the zig zag climb ahead!

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So here we are making our way up in the blistering heat. The skies were so beautifully clear and blue so although we knew we would suffer in the heat, we really couldn't have been happier. By the burn we split into two groups purely for the fact that we were walking at different levels but we agree to meet at the top.

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Now we're REALLY starting to struggle because of the sun! Ironically the two Munros we've bagged this year with the hottest weather have been in March and October, where's the logic in this?! The dogs however are not fazed by the weather in the slightest and so we carry on, zigzagging our way to the top...

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Very happy Sophie

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Stewart and Prince



We've made it to the top! It was unlike any other Munro top I've seen. I wasn't expecting it to be as flat and vast as it was. Lots of little places to explore though.

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View of the top

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We spent the week before this on holiday in Kinlochleven so next we headed over to take in the views of the Ring of Steall and Na Gruagaichean. Luckily a nice chap on his own traded a picture of us for a picture of him so we managed to get a decent picture of the two of us plus the dogs.

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Next we headed over to the plinth. It was incredibly busy but there was a bit of a buzz about the place and everyone was in great spirits. Posed for a few more photos. It was very scary peering over the cliff edge down into the valley. We saw a few climbers that took on the North route to the summit. Impressive stuff but I think I'll be sticking to normal route!

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Me and Sophie


We'd spent a good hour and a half or so at the summit by this point, walking around and then sitting in a circle of rocks so we decided to make our descent in case the others had decided to turn back. Plus it was pretty cold at the top once our muscles had cooled down. Just as we'd left the summit we passed them and decided to meet at the bottom. In the pub of course! Heading down we didn't come across many problems. A bit hard on the knees but not as hard as some other descents. Had to have a laugh at some of the tourists trying to find shortcuts near the bottom!

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Then we made it back to the bottom! Made it at about 5.30pm and straight to the pub for a well deserved pint whilst we waited... and waited... and still waited on the others to make it down! They made it by 7.45pm finding the descent tricky on the knees. A good day was had by all so we left for Fife in very high spirits indeed!

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Re: Ben Nevis with beautifully clear skies!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 5:38 pm
by Merry-walker
Brilliant report and pictures Kibett, I can't wait till I go. Think I might have to leave my dog at home though as she runs every where!!

:clap: :thumbup: