Aonach Mor and Anoch Beag from Glen Nevis and a bonus of £2

[scottishkennyg]

Another opportunity for an trek on the big hills happened and was gladly taken, this time a to ascend Aonoch Mor and Aonoch Beag in Lochaber. Approached from the Glen Nevis side and parked in the final car park before walking up the glen passed the waterfall to just before the small bridge. Turned left and headed up the coire and onwards to the col at 830m between CMD and AB. Found a couple of £1 coins at the base of the big boulder and thought nice wee bonus, will I buy a euro lottery ticket later or stick them into a charity collection, decisions. Or more like a small donation for LMR team.

view up coire toward col at 830m

view across to an gearanach and mamores

final section up to col at 830

view from top of col back toward mamores

I decided to bear right and just climb directly up onto ridge. It was quite steep in sections and covered in hazardous thick ice but reckoned it would definitely be easier ascending than descending.

half way up ridge climb toward mamores

back down to col showing steep gradient , care required when wet, icy or poor visibility on descent

across to CMD and Ben Nevis

I stopped to don the crampons near the upper level and watched as my empty Lucozade bottle made a bid for freedom and slid down to rest on a ledge about 50m below. Did I go down and retrieve it!!!! Of course, had to be done, my pollution, my responsibility a no brainer.

Nice view from ridge ascent to AB ridge and summit plateau

top of climb back down glen to Mamores

Top of ridge near cairn toward AB summit

Ridge to CMD and BN

Once back up onto the main ridge I passed the small cairn (indicating the turn off point for exiting from the ridge) which coincidentally was a good bit away from the main ridge so might be difficult to find in poor visibility.

South along ridge to AB summit

The broad ridge led easily up to the large cairn on the flat summit. Very lucky to get another chance to experience the grand views across to CMD and Ben Nevis.

Summit cairn of AM toward AB

I returned along the ridge and up the steep section to locate the top which was very close to a corniced section. It seemed a shame that there was no sign of a prominent cairn, for such a large mountain. Still there was no more height to be gained so it was either buried by the snow or AWOL. Another clear sky prevailed to absorb and appreciate the array of the surrounding mountains.

Dodgy corniced section on narrow section of ridge up to AB

toward AM from summit of AB - corniced sections close to edge

toward the grey corries

SE ridge and Binnein Beag mamore

AB summit toward BN and CMD

Mamores toward Glencoe from AB summit

South ridge of BN from AB

Mamores from SW ridge of AB

I decided to descend via the SW ridge which would enable me to keep the crampons on longer for better grip. At about 700m there was a section where there was a sheer vertical drop over a large rock, this would require careful navigation in poor visibility in the absence of any paths (which was the case due to the snow covering)

Buttress on descent of SE ridge

Toward AM summit from SW ridge on descent

SW ridge showing lower descent section into glen

After this section it was straight forward picking a path down to the bridge and the track to the car park. Also noticed the rescue helicopter hovering around, hoped it was just a practice session.

Helicopter operating in Glen Nevis

I returned safely to the car 6 hours after setting out delighted to have had the chance get back up on the ridges with the added bonus of clear skies and sunshine in the proximity of the Big Ben again.

[simon-b]

Great pictures, Kenny. It sounds like the conditions were quite demanding. These were my 6th and 7th Munros, and my first two with a view. Magnificent mountains, surrounded by spectacular scenery.

[dooterbang]

Looked a good day out and glad retrieving your lucozade presented no problems.

Enjoyed your cmd report too.

cheers.

[gordon l]

Looks like you had a cracking day for the pair, the views from them are excellent. Last month I had to descend AB in a blizzard which was a bit of a challenge to say the least. Cheers for sharing

[Sunny Speyside]

Great report and photos
Thanks for posting
Cheers

[scottishkennyg]

Cheers Simon, and good choice of hills you made there too..

[scottishkennyg]

Cheers Dooterbang

[scottishkennyg]

Cheers Gordon, think I definitely got the best of the weather for these two, would not have fancied a descent in a blizzard..well done.

[scottishkennyg]

Great report and photos
Thanks for posting
Cheers

Thanks Sunny Speyside