70 Not Out - the "Old Man" and the Ben

[Jaxter]

Day before - Beinn Resipol

It was an early start from my camp spot on Lochailort – I packed up in the dark and headed down the road arriving at Caol to pick up my Dad just before 8. Mum was reluctant to let him go but once I’d promised to look after him we were on our way

The road to the North Face carpark has not improved since my last visit there in snowy April but it was significantly quieter (and less dark )

We headed off down the track and followed our noses along the track and upwards, eventually coming out of the forest. We were able to come back to Fort William and Loch Linnhe


We could see our route ahead – a bit of fluff on Nevis itself but that was hardly surprising


Dad looking excited


We removed some layers before carrying on


Easier in the light, we spotted the path up onto Carn Mor Dearg. It was pretty boggy but I was wearing my new boots




We were managing to hop between the bogs to keep dry and there may have been the odd stop, just to enjoy the views mind




As we gained height Halfway Lochan came into view


And we could see all the way down Loch Eil


We were starting to see more of the north face as well


The fluff was just resting on the arete but we were confident it would clear


Looking back again


The ascent was unrelenting and kept going straight up and up until the path began to traverse diagonally below the boulders (hooray, I hate boulders!!)






We hit the ridge just before Carn Dearg Meadhonach – this impressive ridge appeared out of the cloud


Ahead to the summit of Carn Dearg Meadhonach


It was an easy climb to Carn Dearg Meadhonach and the route ahead to Carn Mor Dearg itself was clear


Carn Mor Dearg and the Ben


Looking back along the ridge from Carn Mor Dearg


Looking into the north face


It was cold so we didn’t hang about too long on the summit of Carn Mor Dearg. After adding more layers we decided to go and see what the arete had to offer…to start with it was easy enough. Dad leads the way


Nevis was clearing more and more and it was looking stunning


The whole arete was clear now – we could see the whole way ahead




Not entirely sure what I’m doing here


We could see almost directly down the glen now


The arete, Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg


The arete got gradually rockier. I joked that the bypass path is for wusses – Dad seemed to take me seriously


As we progressed we began to get the pointy view of the Ben that you only get from this angle


Coire na Ciste – impressive or what


We were much more sheltered from the wind here, so despite moving much slower we were pretty toasty and able to enjoy ourselves (I was anyway!)




The Ben looking even clearer – it was looking good for us


70 going on 40


Looking back to Carn Mor Dearg


As we got towards the wee halfway pinnacle we were able to see the whole way along the arete




Looking amazing!!!


Caol


Binnein Mor and Binnein Beag


The Aonachs


More Mamorey goodness


We were over the hump and could see the rest of the arete and all the way to Ben Nevis


The second half way more exposed but less rocky – much easier to walk on!




I joked that now we were on the more exposed bit and closer to the CIC hut we would be a lot more considerate if we fell off there….


Dad on the move again


Our target


Looking back to CMD – just wow


So BIG




Looking back again


We reached a cairn which we thought probably signified the end of the arete; looking back it reminded me of the ridge leading to Sgorr Dearg on Beinn a’ Bheithir


Mamores


It was such an incredible day – and we were so lucky that the weather had shined on the one day we were able to do this that we were reluctant to leave. Or perhaps it was the thought of 300m of ascent to the highest peak in the UK was what was holding us back

Eventually we got going – looking back to the arete


It was steep and full of huge rocks – last time this had been a big flat sheet of snow; easier on the ankles but tough work

Before too long we felt the gradient easing and we were over the top into the mist


It was a bit misty which made some of the gullies look particularly eerie


Without cornices we were able to wander closer to the edge; although not perfect the cloud did clear a bit and we could see down to Carn Mor Dearg (although the arete was now hidden)


Looking like some sort of abandoned city


I decided to have a wee jump on the trig point….last time I had been here the trig point had been resting on the snow – must have been 6 foot of the stuff


And we stopped for some lunch and a selfie


Last time – only the observatory and top of the trig point stick out!


It was pretty chilly even with the extra layers back on, so we got going – inspecting some of the other gullies on the way down – this is Tower Ridge




Looking a bit like Mordor


Looking across to Carn Dearg


Looking back up


Now off the top of the plateau we could see all the way down to Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil – stunning


Loch Linnhe and an impressive skyline – the Moidart, Ardgour and Ardnamurchan hills




Beinn a’ Bheithir in the background and Loch Linnhe


As we dropped down to halfway lochan on the zig-zags Dad was convinced that the path had been re-routed since we were up here around 10 years ago (with a bit of searching it looks like he may have been right!)


Stob Ban and Mullach nan Coirean


Loch Linnhe again


An easy river crossing here


Down at halfway lochan Dad unearthed some chocolate bars which we enjoyed while we lost our extra layers again. It was getting warm


Loch Lochy and the Loch Lochy munros


Loch Linnhe


Looking up towards The Castle






Dad wasn’t overly keen on off-piste and the river looked quite full so we followed the path towards the CIC hut before cutting down towards a likely crossing place. It wasn’t easy but we made it across unscathed


And we were safely back on the path!


It was an easy walk down and eventually we met our outward route. It was still a bit of a trek from here back to the car


It was turning into a lovely evening – Loch Linnhe shining in the evening light


Looking back – we could see our whole route!


Post-sunrise glow over Loch Linnhe


It was a wee trek back along the track and through the trees back to the car. When we got back we had cups of tea, a hot shower and dinner waiting for us. Sometimes it’s nice to be looked after

Next part - NW Pub Crawl

nevis with dad.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

[Chris Mac]

Superb, your Dad looked like he really enjoyed rock hopping and what a day you got for it!

Love the photos of the arete especially some of the panorama's and shots of the Ben, top stuff!

I can't wait to do it myself!

[Coop]

Something about things like this that I enjoy reading.
Well in to you both

[Sunset tripper]

Brilliant stuff Jaxter. A great route which I cant tire of. I dont know if you have tried the ledge route on the ben, and dare I say it is slightly better, not much more difficult but definately more exposed. I recently did it missing out the ledge at the beginning The first ledge is horribly greasy and sloping, it feels like you are going to slide off it and a better route is to roughly follow the waterfalls up from the CIC hut and then traverse round to the start of the ridge. Malky C recommended this route - Ledge route without the ledges .Cairngorm Creeper did a great report on it.
All the best.
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=74495

[Mal Grey]

A grand way to spend time with your dad. Slightly disappointed not to see him doing a Jaxter on the trig point if I'm honest though Madness often runs in the family!

I always remember the walk up to CMD as "that b****y 3000ft grassy slope". Unrelenting is exactly right! The ridge more than makes up for it, as do the views of the Ben.

[Alteknacker]

Some great pics there - I especially like the one looking out at "Mamorey". This looks like a great route inasmuch as one walks right up under the North Face, which is simply awesome.

By the way, what's this about an "old man"???? 70 isn't old - it's the prime of one's life, right???

Though I guess one is less inclined to perch on top of a trig point in the prime of one's life....

[kevsbald]

I’m sure you know how blessed you were to share this walk with your father. A memory that will live with you forever. 🎁

[malky_c]

Considering how far in advance you picked the day for that, I don't think it could've been any better really. Nice one

[Jaxter]

Superb, your Dad looked like he really enjoyed rock hopping and what a day you got for it!

Love the photos of the arete especially some of the panorama's and shots of the Ben, top stuff!

I can't wait to do it myself!

It's a great walk - I've been across twice and would absolutely go back again We got very lucky

Something about things like this that I enjoy reading.
Well in to you both

Cheers Coop, was a belter of a day

Brilliant stuff Jaxter. A great route which I cant tire of. I dont know if you have tried the ledge route on the ben, and dare I say it is slightly better, not much more difficult but definately more exposed. I recently did it missing out the ledge at the beginning The first ledge is horribly greasy and sloping, it feels like you are going to slide off it and a better route is to roughly follow the waterfalls up from the CIC hut and then traverse round to the start of the ridge. Malky C recommended this route - Ledge route without the ledges .Cairngorm Creeper did a great report on it.
All the best.
<span class="skimlinks-unlinked">https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=74495</span>

That's definitely something I've thought about - mebbe I could persuade Malcy himself to come up there with me!

A grand way to spend time with your dad. Slightly disappointed not to see him doing a Jaxter on the trig point if I'm honest though Madness often runs in the family!

I always remember the walk up to CMD as "that b****y 3000ft grassy slope". Unrelenting is exactly right! The ridge more than makes up for it, as do the views of the Ben.

I'm pretty sure the mad genes all came to me

Some great pics there - I especially like the one looking out at "Mamorey". This looks like a great route inasmuch as one walks right up under the North Face, which is simply awesome.

By the way, what's this about an "old man"???? 70 isn't old - it's the prime of one's life, right???

Though I guess one is less inclined to perch on top of a trig point in the prime of one's life....

Aye the views of the North Face are just awesome - I just can't get over how BIG it is
You're only as old as you feel....given how many Christmas concerts I'm in the middle of I feel about 90

I’m sure you know how blessed you were to share this walk with your father. A memory that will live with you forever. 🎁

Aye it was a belter

Considering how far in advance you picked the day for that, I don't think it could've been any better really. Nice one

Yeah....as jammy as Rum!!

[past my sell by date]

"Easy crossing here" Isn't that what they call the Red Burn? I n spring I've come down a sort of Cresta run" in the snow from the top to here. You sit on you sack (or bum) and hopefully control your speed with an axe

[Jaxter]

"Easy crossing here" Isn't that what they call the Red Burn? I n spring I've come down a sort of Cresta run" in the snow from the top to here. You sit on you sack (or bum) and hopefully control your speed with an axe

Haha brilliant! I had some smashing ice axe fun up there earlier in the year. Great snow fields

[Anne C]

Great report and photos. What wonderful memories of a grand day out with your Dad, very special. Congrats on winning the walk report of the month too :

[goingforawii]

Wonderful photos and a beautiful day. To think only two weeks later the Mamores were covered in snow... and then another two weeks later it was gone again. Great report!