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Sunburst during walk up deserted MTB track
Looking north to descent-ascent from AB-CMD
MTB track
Absolute lick, relentless
First views of The Ben
Deer on AM plateau
Grey Corries?
More GC
Flowers?
Aonach Mor summit
Yet more GC
Scarred approach to AB
Bealach between Aonachs
Snow
Aonach Beag summit
Other guy at summit - good chat. Walked at some pace, skipping down to CMD ascent - mental
Final summit pic
Steep descent
U-shaped valley
Intimidating but doable
Worst over, enjoyable ridge approach
First view of CMD arete
CMD summit to myself for 5 mins. Dripping with sweat. Midges out
Start of arete, initially to myself
Bit of a breeze, midges at bay, dappled sunshine. Bliss
Looks bad, but not an issue. Stuck to the ridge
Bealach before ascent to The Ben
Bealach. Listening to rock falls of idiot scrambling up corrie from CIC hut
Summit. People
Breeze, no midges, crowds dispersed after half hour. Watching climbers ascending via ? route
Leaving summit
Descent
Lot quieter after splitting off to retrun to Torlundy via lochan
Pathless heather trudge to join path coming down from CIC hut
Decent path. Midges replaced by persistent flies
Long forestry trudge back
Quicker without long lunch on Ben
Summary:Early start worth it - only car in car park when set off about 0515. Subsequently avoided most people until ascent to Ben. But missed footpath up Aonach Mor, not signed well. Relentless initial ascent, heat, thirst and midges on CMD summit mitigated by weather, views and perfect CMD arete traverse with no pressure - highlight of walk. No desire to return to Ben Nevis summit though. Back at still deserted car park for 1700. Exhausted but happy.