free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Had been planning this one for a while, as you do. Dawn was scheduled for 07:40 with sunset coming in around 16:20 so we knew we had a window to work to, we met in Callander @ 04:00 and made the journey down arriving way earlier than we expected. Do we set of in the dark with head torches or do we sit tight and wait for the first break of light, we hung around until 07:15 and as we saw light starting to come through we set off, boot's on the ground by 07:30. the initial climb was as we expected, quiet and calm with virtually nothing or nobody to be seen, some cars had arrived in the car park just as we were setting off however nobody seemed in a rush to get going..... we climbed the normal route at a pretty good pace until we reached the half way Lochan, much quicker than we expected to so the pace was good.
The sky was looking dull however it was still early, it was dry and for that there was no reason to complain, so far so good, we continued along the path which got more difficult as we reached the boggy area, at this point we could see that the river below us coming down the valley was no longer a river but more white water rafting material, at that point the weather turned, in a split second the rain lashed down and the temp dropped to the extent our fingers were freezing, we could see on higher ground the snow had began to lie and on the top of Nevis we could see the snow swirling beneath the cloud, would this be the day we were driven back, onwards and upwards we went
Before we knew it the weather quickly changed again, the rain stopped and the wind died away leaving some quite clear views to the top of the CMD which was now covered in snow, we continued working our way down knowing it was going to be difficult to find a way across the now swollen torrential river. By the time we found a safe place to cross, well semi safe place we were not far from the bothy which meant we had a real steep climb to the summit, tough on the legs but no other way, had to be done.
The views acxross to Nevis at this point were outstanding, the grey/black wall of rock surrounded in swirling snow and cloud looked like something from a hammer horror movie, like it was daring us to continue.
In what seemed like an age we hit the summit of the CMD, the legs had taken a pounding due to how steep the climb was but the latter part did not help trying to get through the snow, one down one to go
Time for the ridge, quick check on equipment then it was time to move, temp was ok but that would quickly change if we remained static for to long, quick bite (Protein) and we set off again for the ridge.
This is where the real fun began, this is why we love this stuff, the reason people don't get us..... look at the views around us, can you believe some people go to there graves and never witness this.... we're not mad just different lol
scrambling in the snow, hands on rock can you beat it?? the views over to our final destination were outstanding, something hard to explain and something no picture can capture, then right before our eye's the cloud began to lift from the summit, would this be our day??
We cleared the ridge in good time, thought we were doing real well until we reached the rock garden..... thinking the legs had taken a pounding earlier was an understatement, this seemed endless and the chat fell away as we conserved our energy, the going was tough mad even more so by not being able to see the gaps in the rocks from the covering of snow, trust me there were a few swear words thrown out as we tackled to final climb to the summit, the summit of the highest peak in Great Britian, after what seemed like an age Andy shouted "That's Us" and as I lifted my head I could see the Trig Point & The Shelter, all I may add blanketed in at least 5 inches of snow, with virtually no cloud around us it was like standing on another planet, no feeling like it, a strange sensation like you were somewhere nobody else had ever been, took a while for it to sink in but just for that split moment in time we were the highest free standing people in the whole of the U.K
We hung around on the top for a while, how could you not...... it was stunning, with one eye on the clock we decided it was time to make our way down. exhausted was not the word but the legs seemed light now, the rucksacks felt light to. We continued the route down as the sun shone down, the clouds were scarce and before we knew it we were leving the blanket of snow and our boots were now on solid rock/scree again. I would be lieing if I said the route down did not take it out the knees again, by the time we had reached the car park the leg's were screaming for a break and we were done in, done in with a smile though, we had more or less encountered all four seasons, at points looked like we would be driven back, stood on the CMD and had been dared by Nevis to continue, we took on the challenge and were rewarded with some of the most spectacular views ever, I just hope the pictures can do it some kind of justice, for some reason I don't think my words have, you would need to be a poet or an accomplished writer to capture in word's what we experienced that day.......... not one that will ever be forgotten, take a bow......