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Now I know for most readers of this forum this climb would be slightly less appealing than a visit to the dentist for root canal treatment, but grandson Matthew wanted to tick the iconic mountain of his "to do" list and as his Mum was not allowing us to go by his preferred route of the CMD arete, he very reluctantly accepted that we would look for a day to do the mountain path. And as the schools have returned after the summer break, it meant a weekend date was the only option. Sunday the 25th, had a fabulous weather forecast, but also meant that an already busy route was likely to be mobbed. I had previously done Ben Nevis some 19 years before with my wife Cathie on our 20th wedding anniversary (I know how to show a woman a good time), but that was pretty much a one off in those days. I was not particularly "into" hillwalking, it was just a "let's climb Ben Nevis" thing. So my reward for a crowded day on a fairly uninspiring route would be Matthew's new "bag".
Leaving from the central belt and arriving just before 8.30am at the visitor centre carpark, I was dismayed to find it already full, but on a second circuit managed to squeeze it on to a bit of ground near the entrance. By the time we were organised, it was 9am when we set off, along with a fair percentage of my estimate of 10 million who would be climbing today
.
- So that's where it is!
- Matthew and Ring of Steall with Stob Ban prominent.
There is not a lot to say about the ascent other than to say after a short break near the halfway lochan, Matthew, who is supposed to be in my care, sped up, and I couldn't keep up with him.
- Halfway (not quite) Lochan.
- Mountain Path.
And despite me signalling him to wait for me, he was soon out of sight. I also stopped to help a gent whose son had stumbled and cut his hand (I had plasters and antiseptic wipes). So I fell further behind. I kept expecting to find him sitting on a rock having a rest, waiting for me, but no. Now, there was a charity walk taking place whose many participants were wearing orange tops. Members of Mountain Rescue were stationed at a few points, ostensibly to assist them. I asked a couple of them if and when they might have seen a young boy, but as he was also wearing an orange t-shirt, I guess he didn't really stand out. I was becoming really annoyed with him for not staying with me. Not too worried due to the volume of people around, but definitely wishing he was by my side. I knew his Mum and Gran would not be too pleased if they knew we weren't together. I was tiring as I approached the summit and taking frequent breathers, so falling even further behind. By the time I reached the summit after just a few minutes shy of 4hrs, I had not seen Matthew for around 2hrs
. I scanned the summit. Despite many falling by the wayside on the ascent, I estimate at least 3 million walkers had made it to the summit
. Where was he?
- There was more people on the summit than in Fort William.
To my relief I heard shouts of "grandad, grandad" and my eyes fell on a smiling Matthew waving his walking pole at me. My annoyance slipped away, I was just glad to see him. Although I did tell him to make sure that "that" never happened again under any circumstances. We high fived and congratulated each other. It was Munro No.21 for Matthew. It transpired that he reckoned he had been on the summit for around half an hour and was already rested and had eaten his summit lunch. I was neither rested or refueled so we found a spot for me to do both both while Matthew went to wait in a QUEUE to get some trig point cairn pics
.
- Waiting in line.
Rested a bit, and food and drink taken, I joined Matthew in the queue when he was near the front. Luckily the chap in front of us was the man I had helped with the plasters on the ascent and we agreed to take pics of each other from below the cairn.
- Summit cairn selfie.
- Matthew at summit cairn.
- Me and Matthew at summit cairn.
There then was a visit to the shelter and a general look round the summit.
- Matthew at memorial for war fallen.
- Matthew at the emergency shelter. Saltire pic 1.
- Matthew at the emergency shelter. Saltire pic 2.
There was people sunbathing, others snoozing, some having a picnic. I'm guessing this was about as clear and warm a day as you could get on Nevis's summit, although it was pretty hazy in the distance. Matthew looked at the CMD arete and opined that coming that way wouldn't have been a problem
.
- CMD arete.
We went to take some views of the north face.
- Summit View 1.
- Summit View 2.
After an hour a quarter on the summit we began the long trek back down, passing two of the impressive but scary gullies.
- Gardyloo Gully.
- Tower Gully (I think). Please correct me if I'm wrong.
I took a few more pictures on the descent because Matthew hadn't been with me for a lot of the ascent
.
- Matthew, a bit of Fort William, Caol, Banavie and Corpach
- On a descent break.
- Loch Linnhe becomes Loch Eil.
- Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe sits below Meall an t-Suidhe.
Continuing the long slog down we stopped at the Red Burn to replenish our water, on what was becoming, as we lost height, an increasingly hot afternoon. About 45mins before the car park we passed another small burn and I splashed my head and face to cool down, then took off Matthew's baseball cap and soaked in the cold water and plonked it back on his head. BOY! WAS HE MIFFED
. I had agreed to take him for a McDonald's in Fort William when we were finished and a soggy baseball cap on his head was going to do nothing for his hairstyle and his public image. We arrived back in the carpark around 5.30pm and Matthew immediately rushed to the toilet to check his hair in a mirror
.
To be honest, I wouldn't have chosen to do this walk for myself, but did it for Matthew. Maybe one day when he is older(but I am too old) he will come and summit via the Arete. Yes, it was mobbed. Yes it's not the most interesting climb. Yes, it was hot. But I can't say it was unenjoyable. And there are the summit views and it is "THE BEN".
By the time I had dropped Matthew off then got myself home it was after 9pm. It had been a long day. For the first time I'd finished a walk with a bloody sock from a burst blister on my toe, I'd had to jump out the car twice on the way home to stretch cramping muscles in my accelerator leg, in short I was kn#####ed. But then I realised that Tuesday was free, and, unbelievably, well to me anyway, 24 hours later I was searching for hills to climb the following day. I settled for Glen Lyon and "bagged" Stuchd an Lochain and Meall Buidhe. Not the hardest Munros, but perfect for me on the day. During the climbs I met 4 people, a man, a young girl and a couple. A bit different from a couple of day before
. I think I'll have a rest now!!!!