Ben Nevis

Start (OS Grid): Glen Nevis Visitor Centre (NN 122 730)
Route: Pony Track / Tourist Route / Mountain Path
Map: Explorer 392
Distance: 16.7km (10.4miles)
Time Moving: 05:12:19
Time Stop: 02:30:44
Average Moving Speed: 3.2km/h
Maximum Elevation: 1344m

Who With: Jim
Conditions: Cloudy, dry, lying snow from 1100m

Refreshments: Ben Nevis Inn near start / finish
Hazards: Poor visibility and lying snow on summit plateau
Difficulty: Challenging

Starting at the Glen Nevis visitor centre the route is obvious.

Crossing the suspension bridge over the River Nevis towards Achintee House and the Ben Nevis Inn. Bouncy, bouncy!

The first section of path is easy.....but not for long!

As the ground gets rougher a steep path joins from the youth hostel.

The path is badly eroded in places as over 100,000 people per year climb Ben Nevis.

Nevis Forest within Glen Nevis

First view of the Red Burn with a snow patch close to where we cross!

The first view of  Lochan Meall an t'Suidhe or halfway lochan.
This isn't actually half way though!

The short section passing the lochan is the only place where the path could be described as easy along the whole route.
The sun was trying to come out....we were praying it wouldn't!

Me (doing a man leg) and Jim having our lunch stop.
This photo was taken by two Japanese girls...they didn't make it (to the top I mean!)

Loch Linnhe starts to come into view as we ascend further.
The path we have just come up can be seen on the opposite hill.

Crossing the Red Burn. This is actually half way!
It's not difficult to cross at all...so don't be scared!

Looking down the Red Burn whilst crossing it. See it's not that bad!

The views just keep getting better. Behind Meall an t-Suidhe you can see Loch Eil.

Jim you're spoiling that view!

Starting up the zig zags more distant peaks come into view.
Some boffin could probably name them all, that's not me.

Looking across Glen Nevis towards The Mamores. I like that name!

Into the cloud we go at about 1050m.

Not long after the snow patches start!

Feels strange with your head in the clouds!
The peaks have disappeared but the Lochs are still there!

Approaching the summit plateau and the snow is starting to build up!
Still half a mile slog across the plateau to the summit...you're not there yet but at least the zig zags are over!

OK, now everything is white! Who knows where the mountain ends and the sky begins! Best to follow the Cairns in these conditions which are 6 feet tall when there is no snow!

Just need some skis now!

A glimmer of hope of getting a view from the summit soon disappeared. Apparently the summit is cloud free for only one in every ten days.

When you see three cairns turn left. This is a general direction, you may have to use a compass if you cannot see the next cairn!

This is because you will be passing very close to some of the highest cliffs in the UK. This is the top of Gardyloo Gully and footprints in the snow show some people had walked across the overhanging snow cornices oblivious to the 700m drop below them!

We made it to the top of Ben Nevis!

Ben Nevis is 1344m (4409ft).
Looks like it has grown a few meters according to my GPS!

It was a quiet day on the summit. We saw three other people.....all men on their own!

For a short period of time this must have been the highest beer in the UK!

With the Pony Track it's the same way back down to your welcoming party and the pub!

A well deserved ale at the Ben Nevis Inn after a hard days mountain walking is obligatory!