Ben Nevis – A Winter Ascent 2014

Looking South Across Glen Nevis

The inspiration to try something different often leads to new, and unexpected,  experiences.  And so it was for Donal, Kevin and Sean, three of Ireland’s finest, who decided it would be a great idea to initiate their nascent mountaineering careers with a full-on winter ascent of the highest mountain in the land!  Not that they regretted it for one moment, as it proved to be both memorable and enjoyable – as well as successful!

Heading Up

Their efforts were all the more impressive given that they didn’t reach their previous night’s accommodation until 2AM having driven up from London in a Fiat 500!  Still, they were in fine form as we set off up the tourist track from Achintee on a dry, windless but overcast morning. 

Approaching the Snow Line!

We crossed the snow-line at 500m just below the saddle and a frozen Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe.  Any prospects of a trouble-free conventional ascent up the zig-zags were dealt a terminal blow when we reached the Red Burn.  Weeks of unrelenting snow fall and high winds have created a snow wall that effectively blocks the way ahead, at least for hillwalkers.  The only option was to investigate an alternative route up the left-hand side of the line of the Red Burn - the burn itself is currently buried under several feet of snow!  It was crampons from here on in.

High on the Ben Looking West

Whilst this route offered a more direct way to the summit plateau, it was also a good bit steeper than the route taken by the zig-zags.  Nevertheless, it all balances out in the end and after 90mins of fairy unrelenting steep snow, we intercepted the normal route at the top of the zig-zags.  From here, all but the last 3 of the stone pillars that mark the way to the summit are completely buried so it was back to old days of following a compass bearing in limited visibility to the turning point at the top of Gardyloo Gulley and then on to the summit itself.

The Summit Emergency Shelter Encased in Rime Ice

Here, the ruined observatory was completely buried and both the emergency shelter and the summit trig point were at snow level, their supporting plinths of rock being hidden under layers of snow and rime ice.  

The Summit

There was a brief hint of a clearance in the clouds, but it didn’t last and we were soon re-immersed in mist.  The wind was mercifully light.

Afternoon Light

One final advantage of all the snow cover was it enabled us to take a much more direct route down, rather than be tied to the twists and turns of the tourist track.  Consequently, we made it back to the car in just 2hrs, enjoying some afternoon sunshine and stunning views along the way.       

Meall an t-Suidhe & its Frozen Lochan

  

Check out my plans for this coming winter at: http://www.hillways.co.uk/winter-hillwalking.htm