All these photos were
taken 27 June 2005 on a walk up Ben Nevis. This is Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe (the
half way loch) around 600 metres up and the point where you can leave the tourist
path and take the more interesting route round the back of the mountain.
We decided to test our stamina (and nerves) and head off the exciting way. This is on Carn Beag Dearg looking down to Fort William and Loch Eil with the weather improving rapidly.
Looking the other way to the Great Glen. By now the sun was hot and a lot of hard walking had already been done, dropping back down to the river before climbing steeply across tough ground to over 1000 metres, and the trickiest bit was still to come.
The way ahead... Carn Mor Dearg (1220 metres/4001ft) and the arete beyond leading to Ben Nevis.
On the arete, looking back to Carn Mor Dearg - not too much further now and we'd not seen a single person since leaving the tourist path.
The view while taking a much needed breather on the arete with the north face of Ben Nevis to the left.
On the summit at last! With the shelter and remains of the observatory.
I was proud of not taking the easiest route up, but that's nothing compared to what some people do - can you spot the tiny figure of a mountaineer on the ridge just left of centre in this photo?
Ben Nevis is cloud covered around 300 days a year so it was fantastic to have views like this. But it really was hot (no need for all the bad weather gear we were carrying) and the tough final climb up a steep boulder field was very exhausting. At least the snow patches allowed drinking bottles to be refilled!
Looking south with mountain peaks as far as you can see.
A final view from the top heading down the tourist path.
Back at the half way loch , compare the weather with the first photo taken around 9 hours earlier. Still some way to go back to Fort William before collapsing for a much needed pint and nip in the Grog & Gruel!