Ben Nevis & cmd arete

[valmar1965]

lets get going looks like a good walking day (nice & peaceful)

ok its a good walking day but not so peaceful

the castle

the castle2

wow this more like it

looking back to carn dearg meadhonach

will the cloud lift

looking towards An Gearansch & An Garbhanach

lets arete

start of cmd arete feeling good

still areteing (is that a word) still feeling good

after the next part of the walk perhaps i should have taken this route

path what path?

is this the summit

well built cairns (must get the builders name)

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a great walk in 3 parts

part 1
arrive at start point not a cloud in the sky (will it be to hot?) raymie replies its never to hot (he works on an oilrig offshore from isreal 25c is cold) got lots of water (yes) raymie says "there are lots walking today" start to notice flip/flops trainers etc (lots of new walking shoes)

part 2
take the path to avoid the tourist/mountain/pony track by up towards the cic hut & get quick bite to eat before the walk up to carn mor dearg(what a slog) another quick stop on the summit (after hearing climbers from the cliffs shouting BELOW & hearing the sound of rocks thundering down /I was slacking back to give some 6 young ladies some moral support (are we nearly there yet) or vice vera & we all stopped & looked & said have they fallen of the cliff (all safe But not my idea of fun) munro 29 bagged walk along cmd ridge (best views ever) clamber up onto the summit of ben nevis(Munro No 30) & meet the crowds

part 3
what a great walk loved it all & well done to all that made it to the summit especially the charity walkers (my little moan do not go onto the hills unprepared as we arrived back at the carpark the rescue helicopter flew over twice to remove walkers from the summit)

[Ray Mackay]

So glad we took the Arete route and bagged Carn Mor Dearg, although the climb up to the summit from the hut, as you said, was a hell of a slog, almost as bad as the slog up the final climb up the boulders to the Ben summit,

Now i knew the tourist trail was going to be busy with charity walkers and inexperienced walkers but i was flabergasted by some, who, on a very hot day (even for me) were very ill prepare, no hydration and poor footware the worst 2 pointers,

seeing a bloke in a mankini, a lady breast feeding at the side of the path and believe it or not, Jesus Christ walking past in sandals and a large wooden cross over his shoulders,fair play to him, never thought i would see that walking a Munro

but asides from that the walk around the Arete was fantastic, wasn't it neighbour, not one for the old dog (Keisha) but the views were as Irn-Bru put it 'Phenominal' great day out