Blue Hour on Ben Nevis (CMD)

[Grisu]

Sunshine, no clouds - a perfect morning for another walk, and what else could it be than Ben Nevis, the highest, on such a sunny summer day in Octobre! We had considered to take the Carn Mor Dearg Arete route but kept the decision for later. That's why we parked at the visitor center and set off around 10:20 am to take what I have learned the pony track .

Sunny start of the walk

It was already pretty hot on the way up, so we had several stops for a lot of sips of water

Above Loch Meall an t-Suidhe where the pony track turns right we finally decided to go over the Arete. Everything else would have been a real waste on a day like this!
First we followed the North Path until we started to descend a grassy slope to cross the Allt a' Mhuilinn, and up again the grassy slope on the other side.

Allt a' Mhuilinn and the Arete in the background

Glen Mor and Loch Lochy and the Lochy-Mountains

We zigzaged the steep slopes uphill until we reached a seemingly endless slog over stony ground to Càrn Beag Dearg.

Loooong slog towards Càrn Deag Bearg

At the Cairn we took a breather and enjoyed the views. A little chat with a walker and some information about the route and time had been exchanged - Thanks for that! We made our calculation and thought that we should be able to finish the walk in daylight. Well we nearly managed.

Happy David at the cairn of Càrn Beag Dearg

Great visibility offered views to the mountains around Glen Shiel

Fort William, Loch Eil and faintly Cuillins of Rum in the far distance

and sweaty me

After the slog it was almost easy going up to the Top of Càrn Deag Meadhonach.

Cairn of Càrn Dearg Mheadhonach

View over the ridge of Aonach Mor and Schiehallion in the distance

And an hour later we have reached the Cairn of Càrn Mòr Dearg.

Cairn of Càrn Mòr Dearg

Looking back

and me

The following walk over the Arete accompanied by the great views over the Marmores and with Ben Nevis towering from the right was very special and enjoyable. Of course, it needed care and concentration to cross the ridge but after the steep slog from the beginning it was pour pleasure.

The Arete with great views to the Ring of Steall and part of the Grey Corries

Looking back to Càrn Mòr Dearg

Allt Coire Giubhsachan and the Marmores; some of the Grey Corries I guess to the left

having fun

What a bulky swing

Me on the Arete

Finally we reached the cairn and the setting sun was casting the late sunrays over the Marmores.

The flat shoulder with the cairn beneath on the final pull

But what was this now ?

Unbelievable!

Seeing the big boulders of the final pull I suddenly felt quite dispirited. From the distance it never has looked so rough. Vainly I was looking for an exit but then I got mesmerized by the scenery behind. That brought back some energy

looking down from the boulders

golden Marmores

Keep going, keep going, I plodded behind my friend wondering how he managed to go over the boulders so quickly. At some time I was afraid we might loose the path, but than, out of a sudden, the ground leveled. But only after about 200 meters I realized that I really have arrived on the summit
And now it was WOW! Blue Hour on Ben Nevis!
Being late was a good advantage, only few people had been up on the summit. The amazing views kept us busy for a while admiring and marvelling, what a reward after such a great day! I really regret that I was not better equipped but these are the best pics I can offer to give an impression of the scenery.

The old observatory

Ben Nevis plateau and the Cuillins of Rum and Skye in the distance almost looking as if floating

Impressions form the summit

my favourite sight

Finally we started the descend down the pony track route.

Look back over the almost empty summit - a rare sight

Never can get enough of the vision of the Cuillins.

floating Cuillins

Amazing! Cuillins of Rum and Skye at Blue Hour

Spot on!

After the zigzag the light faded more and more, the moon came out and finally the torches and our pace slowed down.

The moon is out

The pure walking time was about 6 hours and half but as we didn't rush and have taken some time along the Arete and at the summit we had been back at the car after almost exactly 11 hours, tired but happy and very glad about our decision. For the legends of the pictures I have tried to reconstruct what is visible and hope I made not too many mistakes, still learning .
It was a very happy day in great weather with amazing views on this superb ridge walk we both enjoyed immensely - can't help myself using these supelativs. The slogs over the boulders was quickly forgotten.
This walk is definitely worth a 10 on a scale out of ten

[Sunset tripper]

Looked like a great day out on the ben. Good pics .

[jmarkb]

Great report and some lovely photos! Hard to beat such a classic route in good weather, and nice to have the summit without the crowds.

For the legends of the pictures I have tried to reconstruct what is visible and hope I made not too many mistakes, still learning

You are doing very well: the "Cuillins" in your shots are the Rum ones, not the Skye ones, but I'm sure you know that!

[Grisu]

...
You are doing very well: the "Cuillins" in your shots are the Rum ones, not the Skye ones, but I'm sure you know that!

that was just the one I was sure, and have to admit that I meant Skye because on my very first time up BN with excellent views experienced walkers told me so.

Looking on a map I was always a bit confused when I tried to connect the line of view from Loch Eil to Skye
Thanks for this!!!

[Grisu]

Looked like a great day out on the ben. Good pics .

Yes it was! and it is always funny how quick I forget any struggle , Thanks!

[Silverhill]

Oh I do like a trip report about the Ben via the CMD arete . That was definitely the right decision. I'm glad you had good weather for it!

[Grisu]

Oh I do like a trip report about the Ben via the CMD arete . That was definitely the right decision. I'm glad you had good weather for it!

Happy you like it Thanks!