Walkhighlands

Beautiful photos and an interesting option for The Ben. We did the classic arete traverse two years ago and I always wondered, could we take another step forward and try something more difficult. I'm not afraid of scrambling as long as it's dry and the rock has a good grip.

Thanks for sharing. As Malky said, nice to see good weather conditions, if only in pictures The recent conditions have been dreadful and I really miss summer... Or proper winter, when the days are frosty, the snow is white, the sky is blue and crampons fit your boots

BlackPanther wrote:We did the classic arete traverse two years ago and I always wondered, could we take another step forward and try something more difficult. I'm not afraid of scrambling as long as it's dry and the rock has a good grip.

This version of Ledge Route is not that much harder than the CMD arete: I think you would be fine! The original/"normal" start up No. 5 Gully is quite loose and the slabby section on the ledge often a bit wet - better in winter!

jmarkb wrote:This version of Ledge Route is not that much harder than the CMD arete: I think you would be fine! The original/"normal" start up No. 5 Gully is quite loose and the slabby section on the ledge often a bit wet - better in winter!

Thank you! Now I'm salivating like Pavlov's dog Just bring on a good summer!

The route looks great in your report and good it has not just one strict option and you can choose the way higher up, glad you had the weather and conditions with perfect visibility for the climb , superb photos !

This route is on my To-Do list for a long time along with Coire Leis Route & South Flank Route & Carn Dearg ( Southwest ) Route & Glen Nevis-Coire Giubhsachan-CMD-BN...hope to do at least one of them this year if the weather allow the views !
All the Best !

Very impressive pictures and nice reading. Looks like a sort of shortcut compared to the long CMD-Arete and even more impressive with the crags so close.

BlackPanther wrote:Beautiful photos and an interesting option for The Ben. We did the classic arete traverse two years ago and I always wondered, could we take another step forward and try something more difficult. I'm not afraid of scrambling as long as it's dry and the rock has a good grip.

Thanks for sharing. As Malky said, nice to see good weather conditions, if only in pictures The recent conditions have been dreadful and I really miss summer... Or proper winter, when the days are frosty, the snow is white, the sky is blue and crampons fit your boots

Cheers BP. Good info and advice from jmarkb as usual. I agree it's not much more difficult than the climb via the CMD. The only big difference would be the route finding. A good clear day would help with this and also it's a route for a good day anyway.
All the best.

Grisu wrote:Very impressive pictures and nice reading. Looks like a sort of shortcut compared to the long CMD-Arete and even more impressive with the crags so close.

Cheers Grisu. Probably a bit less strenuous than the CMD but both are fantastic routes. A lot less people on Ledge route though.

Petr Dakota wrote:The route looks great in your report and good it has not just one strict option and you can choose the way higher up, glad you had the weather and conditions with perfect visibility for the climb , superb photos !

This route is on my To-Do list for a long time along with Coire Leis Route & South Flank Route & Carn Dearg ( Southwest ) Route & Glen Nevis-Coire Giubhsachan-CMD-BN...hope to do at least one of them this year if the weather allow the views !
All the Best !

Hi Petr, there are so many options on the ben. I found Coire Leis a bit rough but it's a fantastic setting.
I've done the route from Glen Nevis via Carn Dearg SW. It's another great route on to Ben Nevis and rarely used. Not technically difficult but very steep. Here's a link. Cheers.

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=56323

Sunset tripper wrote:

Petr Dakota wrote:The route looks great in your report and good it has not just one strict option and you can choose the way higher up, glad you had the weather and conditions with perfect visibility for the climb , superb photos !

This route is on my To-Do list for a long time along with Coire Leis Route & South Flank Route & Carn Dearg ( Southwest ) Route & Glen Nevis-Coire Giubhsachan-CMD-BN...hope to do at least one of them this year if the weather allow the views !
All the Best !

Hi Petr, there are so many options on the ben. I found Coire Leis a bit rough but it's a fantastic setting.
I've done the route from Glen Nevis via Carn Dearg SW. It's another great route on to Ben Nevis and rarely used. Not technically difficult but very steep. Here's a link. Cheers.

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=56323

Hi Sunset tripper, it looks great ! I have some photos and route directions with maps and descriptions for those other "not busy" routes from books, magazines and web sources, on my To-Do list to climb The Ben from more directions and angles...
Thanks for your link - it will help for sure Ben Nevis is great mountain which deserve to be climbed more times and by more routes

Petr Dakota wrote:

Sunset tripper wrote:Hi Petr, there are so many options on the ben. I found Coire Leis a bit rough but it's a fantastic setting.
I've done the route from Glen Nevis via Carn Dearg SW. It's another great route on to Ben Nevis and rarely used. Not technically difficult but very steep. Here's a link. Cheers.

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=56323

Hi Sunset tripper, it looks great ! I have some photos and route directions with maps and descriptions for those other "not busy" routes from books, magazines and web sources, on my To-Do list to climb The Ben from more directions and angles...
Thanks for your link - it will help for sure Ben Nevis is great mountain which deserve to be climbed more times and by more routes

I've been looking into a route up by Surgeons Rib which is alongside Surgeons gully. I haven't much info on it but it looks a brilliant route from Glen Nevis. I believe it is a grade 2 scramble but maybe harder or easier It takes you out near the top of Carn Dearg SW. I'll maybe get a shot at it this year, but I've been saying that for the last 5 years.