Sunday 30 May 2010

BEN NEVIS, BANK HOLIDAY- AAAAGGGHHHH!

I was out with Sharon, Andy, Louisa and Simon on Ben Nevis today. Forecst of a dry and sunny day didn't materialise till much later in the afternoon. We had some rain showers in the morning. The cloud did lift just after we left the summit. We left the path on the way down and headed to the top of Comb Buttress and enoyed 10 minutes of peace and quiet as well as views of the north face. It was mad busy again with  folk and loads of dogs up and down the Pony Track all day, it was not a pleasent experience at times!
I'm away from Technology (and The Ben) over the next week, down in Yorkshire with D of E group on their Silver training. So no updates for a few days.

Saturday 29 May 2010

QUICK ONE UP BEN NEVIS

A quick up and down on Ben Nevis today. Three peak challenge group from various parts of England, mostly a Geordie Land contingent with that typical banter and wit to while away the zig zags. We beat the rain and enjoyed dry conditions all the way, still cool and with cloud on the higher slopes.

Friday 28 May 2010

WINTRY BEN NEVIS

A taste of winter again today for Paul & I. We headed up to the CMD arete on Ben Nevis from the upper carpark in Glen Nevis. We had a lovely spell of 10 minutes of sunshine and some midge bites before the snow showers began. . Paul had been up the Pony Track on the Ben before so I took him up a more remote  and scenic way, via the Waterslide into Coire Eoghainn. We had wet snow, hail, dry snow and windblown snow today . At the abseil posts we headed over the arete, very atmospheric and we did get a glimpse of the ridge at some points. Descended via Allta ' Mhuillin and the Ben Nevis Distillary. The weather's been very strange recently, temperatures up and down like a certain persons under garments.

Wednesday 26 May 2010

GLORIOUS GLENCOE

It was beautiful  weather today in Glencoe, sunshine all day and a change in airflow to a northerly breeze gave sparkling clarity. I was taking a group of students from Ausbourg College in the USA for there first foray in the Scottish hills, a couple of students hadn't even been up a mountain before today. They were treated to some of the finest weather and scenery one could ask for. We headed up Coire Gabhail and on to the summit of Stob Coire nan Lochan, descending into Coire an Lochan. Rounded off with the obligortory visit to the Clachaig of course. The ground is very dry at the moment but that will definately change tomorrow looking at the latest forcast of heavy rain and even fresh snow on the tops.

Tuesday 25 May 2010

THE RING OF STEALL

It was another sunny day in the west Highlands today, cooler than of late which was very pleasent for walking and no midges (yet)! I had a wander round The Ring Of Steall, the classic horseshoe ridge in The Mamores, encompassing Sgurr a' Mhaim, The Devils Ridge, Sgurr an Iubhair, Am Bodach and An Garbhanach. Great ridge walking day out with two bits either end with  narrow sections to spice the day up a bit. There used to be five Munros on this section of The Mamores but the powers that be decided to delete Sgurr an Iubhair. A few folk out along the route today, interesting to see most doing it the opposite way round, starting on An Garbhanach. I always think it's easier starting with Sgurr a' Mhaim first, for less steep bits on descent and  better views, I also start up the NW ridge of Sgurr a' Mhaim from the lower falls carpark, short road walk downhill from Steal at the end of the day-not battling through trees on steep ground like countless folk have no doubt encountered over the years!

Sunday 23 May 2010

A PEACEFUL, LITTER FREE MOUNTAIN DAY


Another cloudy morning, with sunshine by late afternoon and hot. Suzanne, Candice, Matthew, Merica and I had a pleasent walk through Glen Nevis to Steall then on and up to Meall Chumann. Unlike yesterday on Ben Nevis with the crowds we enjoyed peace and solitude as well as soft ground . Flowers and plants have suddenly bloomed the last week or so with hot weather. Bluebells out and high on the summit Globe flowers in flower.

Saturday 22 May 2010

BEN NEVIS SIZZLING

It was a very hot day on Ben Nevis, but with cloud on the summit early in the day it was a welcome relief. Anna and Gary made didn't get the views on the summit, just noise. But we we got the hot sun on the way down as the clouds finally broke up. A lot of snow as now melted away on the plateau. Busy up the Ben today.

Wednesday 19 May 2010

A CLAMY BEN NEVIS AND CMD ARETE

Sadly it wasn't a sparkling spring day again today, rather a very humid and cloudy one for Malcolm on his trip up  Ben Nevis with me. The cloud did lift occasionally  during the day but by late afternoon it was well and truly claggd in. Despite this we had an atmospheric traverse along the Carn Mor Dearg arete and had it to ourselves. It was quite warm but with a welcome breeze on the tops. Snow on the plateau is now rapidly breaking up and some big bare patches around, unfortunately all the litter that thoughtless folk have left behind is now a real eyesore. I picked up 3 of those snap light sticks on the way down, no doubt left behind by 3 peak challenge events as well as the ubiquitous banana skins and plastic bottles.

Tuesday 18 May 2010

THE WILDER SIDE OF BEN NEVIS

It was a beautiful, very warm and sunny day in The Highlands today. I took a trip round into the wilder areas of Ben Nevis, starting up the superb waterslide ino Coire Eoghainn, this corrie is seldom visited, except by the rare mountain ringlet butterfly in summer. This South aspect of the Ben is also famed for having the longest continous steep slopes in Britain, over 1000m. I headed up to the abseil posts and onto the Carn Mor Dearg arete. Virtually all the snow along the ridge has now gone, bar a couple of very short sections. From Carn Mor Dearg summit I headed down into Coire Giubhsach, another corrie with a wonderfully wild feel to it, only me and the ptarmigan in the corrie. Back into Glen Nevis via Bealach Cumhann with a last view looking into upper Glen Nevis and Steall. Rounded off the day with a great bike run down the glen and home. A great way to appreciate the size, bulk and parts of the Ben that you will probably never see a sole inTry it!