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I’d had an easy day yesterday with Stob a’ Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain. Nevertheless, today I wasn’t feeling it. No mojo. Heavy, tired muscles. The pains and strains of 12 consecutive days of munro bagging.
A sensible person would have taken a day off, done a low level amble or (shock horror!
) gone for some retail therapy in Fort William. Whereas I dragged my body to the car and drove to the Lochaber ski centre to bag the Aonachs.
From the car park, the start of the walk is far from obvious. There are numerous paths. All seemed to be MTB trails though, according to the abundant ‘Keep Off’ signage present. Had I had a bit more energy I probably would have just picked one of them and gone for it. As it was, I couldn’t decide and dithered around aimlessly, wasting time. Then the answer came, literally from above: the gondola! A bit naughty but really perfect for the state of my legs. It wouldn’t start operating for another hour. So I went back to the car and had a snooze. It was going to be a lazy day!
Having never been on a ski lift, my oh my did I enjoy the ride! The trip lasted a good 10 minutes, so there was plenty of time for enjoying the views, snapping pictures and waving to the passengers in the other carts
. Simple souls are easily pleased.
- The ride up
- View towards Loch Eil
Whereas it had been sunny and warm at sea level, it was notably colder once out of the gondola. Jacket, hat and gloves on, ready for the rest of the ascent, which was a straightforward plod up a uniformly steep slope, roughly following the line of two ski tows.
- Looking back to the gondola station
Once on the summit plateau visibility was significantly reduced, which didn’t bode well for finding the cairn. According to the map it was a 1km walk to the summit. So after 12 minutes I should be near it and keep my eyes peeled for anything resembling a cairn looming up from the mist. Start the clock.
After a while the cloud shifted, yay! Revealing not only the summit, but also the CMD arête and the Grey Corries. Lucky me! There were clear views of the steep east ridge leading to Carn Mor Dearg, an alternative route for this hill and the Ben, when approaching them from Glen Nevis. Maybe my route next year?
- Summit Aonach Mor
- View towards the Grey Corries
- View towards Aonach Beag
- Carn Mor Dearg
- Carn Mor Dearg, arete, Ben Nevis
On the descent towards Aonach Beag the weather changed. It got colder and the wind whipped up. Once on the 1080m bealach it had turned into a completely different day. It was freezingly cold and I really wanted to put on a fleece underneath my jacket. But no way was I going to take my jacket off in this icy wind. With chattering teeth I continued up Aonach Beag, hoping that the ascent would warm me up.
- Looking back towards Aonach Mor
On the summit there was a lull in the wind, so on went the fleece. That sorted, I made the most of walking through the snow field, taking pictures of the surrounding hills and admiring the blue-green crevasses in the snow.
- Ben Nevis, CMD arete and Carn Mor Dearg
- Looking along Glen Nevis
- The Grey Corries from Aonach Beag summit
I returned the way I came. Being better dressed for the conditions I sauntered back whilst marveling at the CMD arête and the wild country to the east of Aonach Mor. Then it was down the slope along the ski tows, a hot chocolate in the café and a fun ride back to the car. A brilliant day!
- Fun ride back