Monday 21 April 2014

Ben Nevis


Good Friday is not the best day to travel  The roads were gridlocked and there were huge tailbacks just to get through Callander. After a full day on the road we finally got to the campsite in Glencoe and parked the van.


It may not be wild camping but the view from the site is awesome. We walk into the village and catch the local shop just shutting and get the last loaf of bread.  Sandwiches sorted for the walk.


Easter Saturday and we get parked up in the Visitor Centre car park and cross the beck on the way to Ben Nevis.  At this stage I'm a bit confused.  Some people, like us, are carrying ice axes and wearing boots.  Some people are wearing trainers with a coat tied around their waist.  Must be getting old and too cautious.


The path is easy going and zig zags up the fell.

The views open up.



Then it's not just the odd drift of snow but deep stuff.  Some, but not all, of the trainers turn around here.  We stop for refreshment.



We reach the summit and mingle with the crowds before having another cup of tea and a wander around the plateau taking photos.




The summit from across Observatory Gully.  I wonder how many people realise how close they are to a huge drop.

We head down, this is a big hill as you climb it from almost sea level and there's a danger Morrisons might be shut by the time we get there.


We met an old friend and his wife and daughter ( Ben and Hannah and Sophie) on the way down and did manage to catch Morrisons,  but we were pretty tired.

We drove home the next day as we needed to get some things sorted before work.  But we did of course stop at the Green Welly for our dinners.


5 comments:

afootinthehills said...

If those cornices collapsed it looks likely that the fracture line would be far enough back to take those folks down. No sense of self preservation.

Incidentally 'fell', 'beck'? -:)

Anonymous said...

Cracking pictures, Greg. Those people in trainers are really annoying. Or are we just getting grumpy?
Cheeers, Alen

Anonymous said...

Cracking pictures, Greg. Those people in trainers are really annoying. Or are we just getting grumpy?
Cheeers, Alen

Greg said...

Sorry afoot should have used burn and hill? Alien words to me!

Greg said...

Definitely grumpy Alen. You only have to watch the news to raise the blood pressure.