Ben Nevis via the CMD arête
Vložit
- čas přidán 15. 09. 2019
- A classic but epic and fantastic route up Ben Nevis, the Carn Mor Dearg arête is a challenging route because of the steep ground, tough terrain and possible adverse weather conditions (rain, mist, high winds and snow can be encountered any time of the year). The hardest sections are arguably the +450/500m steep off-track ascent from the CIC Mountain Rescue Hut to the top of the Carn Mor Dearg ridge and the final +200m through boulders and scree to the top of Ben Nevis. The CMD arête stands in between the two, a fine rocky, airy ridge requiring the use of hands here and there, although the main difficulties can be by-passed. The descent was made via the tourist route, the "Pony Track", which is the easiest way up and down Ben Nevis. This was my second ascent of the highpoint of the UK after having climbed it back in 2003 via the "easy" route.
Ben Nevis via the CMD arête: 20km, total height gain 1590m, 8h00
Navigation skills mandatory -even for the tourist/"easy" route.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suivez-moi sur/follow me on:
Blog: lonepeakbagger.com/
/ lonepeakbagger
/ lonepeakbagger
/ thelonepeakbagger
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Music:
"Pink Horizon" by Chris Haugen
"Journeyman" / "The Rising" by Aakash Gandhi
"Celtic Warrior" by Damiano Baldoni
"Victory" / "Up and Away" by Holfix - Sport
Fantastic video and great soundtrack. I did the exact same route several years ago with a couple of friends in late September. It's such a great route because you get to actually "see" the mountain in all it's glory from the ridge, which you don't get if you're going the tourist route up. This brought back so many memories. My legs were in bits by the time I reached the top. The only thing that got me off was the thought of the pint waiting for me in the pub at the bottom :-) Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you very much !! It's the perfect route to admire Ben Nevis from different angles, and the views from the ridge are just breathtaking indeed !!
That's looked like so much fun. What a wonderful adventure.
It's a fantastic route indeed !!
Beautiful video. so jealous, I tried that route a few years ago by myself, but got too scared, thought I was going to get cramp, so I turned back down!
Thank you, yes, it can be a bit scary in places, especially if it's windy. Conditions were excellent that day and I had done Crib Goch two weeks before so I hardly felt any exposure on the CMD. Still you have to watch out every step you're taking.
Thank you for this. I climbed all the Munros 1976 to 1996, the large majority by myself. For me it is about the only way to do it, you an work according to your own schedule. Also one has to put up with a fair amount of inclement weather.
Wow, well done on the full completion, I hope I can make it one day, but not easy as I live in SW France. Much easier to plan when you're on your own indeed.
@@thelonepeakbagger7434 wow. And you have the Alps. You must love Scotland. 😀
@@malcolmabram2957 Yes indeed !!
David, an epic route it is - it just screams proper mountain. It looked like a great day with little traffic and stunning views all the way. Lovely stuff :-)
Thank you Gerry, an epic route indeed with rewarding views, best kept for a good day !! 😊
Les paysages sont majestueux vraiment tu nous transporte dans ta vidéo
Merci beaucoup !! C'est le but !! 😁
Excellent video.Been saving the CMD as my last Munro (37 to go)and looking forward to coming over the Arete.You captured it really well.😀👍
Thank you very much Andy, an amazing route definitely, and a nice one to save as your last Munro. Best of luck for the last 37 !! 😀👍🏞️💪💪💪
On my bucket list. Great job man.
Thank you very much, it's a fantastic route, which deserves some good weather to enjoy it fully !!
Nice video….enjoyed that. Cool…..
Thank you very much !! 😊
Great video. Well done on the climb.
Thank you very much !! ☺
Amazing video
Thank you very much !! 🙂
Superb video of an epic route up the Ben! You deserve way more subs and views best wishes to you subscribed 👍🏔
Ah thank you very much !! It's been a while since I posted my last video, hope I find some time to work on more soon !!
@@thelonepeakbagger7434 yes time we never have enough! But you posted some good stuff hope to see more 👍 all the best
@@SetForAdventures Thank you so much, will have a look at yours too !! 😊
Beautifully made, deserves lots more views. Filmed in a similar style (minus commentary ) to the first-ever filmed walk to the Ben, and by this best route too, by video production co Hillwalks on Video in 1998.
Thank you very much for your kind comment. I haven't watched the video you are mentioning and can't find it on the web, so if you have the link, don't hesitate to share it. :-D
Looked like an amazing climb! I'd love to do that but not near as experienced. Closest I've done to that is going down striding edge from helvellyn. Hoping to do ben nevis via the pony track next year though :)
I haven't done Striding Edge yet but all I can say is, I never felt any serious exposure on the CMD. The only exposed bit I did just before the final ascent up the Big Ben can easily be contoured to the left. You'd probably be fine as long as you: 1. Pick a day with perfect conditions, i.e. no strong winds, no snow (unless you are adequately equipped and experienced) and good visibility; 2. Know how to navigate, are used to wander off-track (for the ascent of the main CMD ridge and the final pull up) and used to long, strenuous walks. Last thing is, I did this one on my own (like most of my walking) as I'm used to hike alone (hence my nickname) but would advise you not to venture up there on your own unless you are used to do so.
Hi..was this 3 munros you bagged then? Howndidnunfind it. We are doing it on Wednesday.. can't wait
Hi, brilliant, you're going to love it, just hope you get nice conditions !! There are only two munros on this route, as the first one, Carn Dearg Meadhonach is actually a "munro top". I added it as it's only a short detour and doesn't add much climbing, but you can as well ignore it and head straight up to Carn Mor Dearg summit.
what equipment did you use to capture this beautiful footage?
Thank you for your kind comment. I used a GoPro Hero 5 and a stabiliser.
@The Lone Peakbagger --how much does the wide angle camera exaggerate the steepness on either side of the arete? Is it feasible for someone who isn't great with heights, or is the exposure too much?
Just watched it again. I'd say the GoPro may slightly exaggerate the steepness on either side of the screen, but basically what you see in and around the centre of the screen is the reality. Yet on close-ups (like the scene when you can watch my footsteps) the steepness is clearly exaggerated. Note that the exposed bit at 11:45 can easily be by-passed to the left (I just left the trail to add in a bit of scrambling). To be honest I'm not a fan of serious exposure. The conditions on that day were really good as the wind was limited to a gentle breeze. I wouldn't have ventured up there in strong winds. This said, I didn't find the exposure was serious. The ridge gets quite narrow at times, but you always have plenty of rocks to hold onto. For someone who has vertigo or is really scared of heights, it might appear very impressive and should be avoided; for someone who is used to wander on steep, rocky ground, it should be grand, as the exposure is not that serious. Another thing you need to take into consideration is the strenuousness of this route though. The full route is ca. 20km with almost 1600m total height gain (including a short detour to Carn Dearg Meadhonach, but this doesn't add a lot of climbing). The ascent from the CIC mountain hut to the top of the ridge is a proper lung buster and is totally off-track. Also, you've already climbed a good 1300m before you start the crossing of the arête, which does require a clear head anyway. The last pull up to the top of Ben Nevis is also tough and requires a bit of care, but no exposure on this section. Then the summit plateau can be tricky to navigate in the mist.
@@thelonepeakbagger7434 Wow--thanks so much for your detailed reply! I'm looking forward to trying--whenever it's possible to visit Scotland again. The exposure is definitely my main concern. I'm a pretty experienced walker and am fit enough, I think. I've done walks at higher altitudes than Ben Nevis, but heights are always challenging for me. If the slopes were sheer there's no way I could do it. But if there is a yard or so on either side so you don't feel like you're on a tightrope then I might be able to get through it.
@@meropealcyone There is less than a yard on either side in places, with very steep ground on either side too, but you never get too close to sheer drops/cliffs so the feeling of exposure is reduced.
What was the path off the Pony Track over to the CIC hut like, just got a couple of quick glimpses of it? Thinking of doing Nevis later this year setting off from Torlundy down the valley to the CIC to get a view of the north face, then taking the path over to the Lochan & up the second half of the Pony Track, then back down to Glen Nevis. Doing the whole Pony path up and down looks a little tedious. (not doing the CMD - too old & scared of heights!)
This sounds like a great route, the N face is worth the detour indeed !! The path between the CIC hut and the Pony Track is rather easy and well-defined, no scrambling or anything of the kind. 🙂
Excellent, that’s really good to hear. Doesn’t look like too much change in elevation along that path either, so a little respite before part two & the ZigZags ;) Well done on the CMD by the way, great video!
@@oystermouth1971 Thank you very much. 🙂 As far as I can recall, the path is rather even on this section indeed. Just pick a good day for it !! Enjoy !!
I have never climbed a mountain quite as big as Ben Nevis. I have done Pen y Fan countless times and it is getting boring. I find it too easy because it is just a nice walk really. I want to try out Ben Nevis with my dad. I was thinking that the mountain track route would be best because of its common reputation for being less difficult than the other routes and with it being my first time it might be a wise decision. What do you think? W would stay nearby so we can climb starting in the morning.
I reckon the "normal/easy" route (aka. "Pony Track") is the best choice if you're doing it for the first time. This is the way I climbed it for the first time back in 2003. Ben Nevis is a huge mountain and despite the track being well trodden, the total amount of climbing (ca. 1300m) should not be underestimated. Navigation would be much easier as well. Just watch for the large cairns when you reach the top, these will put you back on track on your way down in case of low visibility. More than any other mountain in the UK, Ben Nevis is prone to changeable and possibly (very) bad weather conditions -it may snow any time of the year and gale force winds are pretty common- so make sure you check the forecast (including temperature and wind) and you have the right gear (boots, fleece, jacket, etc...) and enough food and drink before you leave, even if the weather is nice and warm at the starting point. The route shown in this video is a tough one and requires good navigation skills and experience as some of the route is off-track and in a remote area; also, best to avoid the arête in case of strong winds.
@@thelonepeakbagger7434 the me so much do you know how I can get to the base of that route?
Because it will probably be on foot from where we are staying as we would travel by train
@@artwithleah4145 The starting point is only about 2 miles or so from Fort William. Not sure if there are any bus shuttles, best would be to enquire at the local tourist office.
@@thelonepeakbagger7434 thanks I havefound the postcode of the base of the pony track. I just realised that it is the same route as the mountain track just a different name!
Are the ridges as narrow to walk on as they look or is that the camera lens?
The GoPro tends to exaggerate the steepness on each side. The exposure is actually not as bad as it looks, yet the ridge is rather narrow, and thus best avoided if windy. Note that the last narrow section shown in this video can be avoided by using a trail to the left.
@@thelonepeakbagger7434 thanks. I’m not good with heights or drops so I’m wondering if I should just stick to the other trail
@@meanmachine08 It may be wiser indeed, all the more given the length and difficulty of this route.
@@thelonepeakbagger7434 yeah thanks. I did it on the mountain route. Good experience
@@meanmachine08 Brilliant. 🙂👍
How do you compare this to Helvellyn?
Haven't done Helvellyn unfortunately so can't make a comparison. All I can say is, I hardly used the hands on the CMD (the bit of scrambling before the final climb on the video can be avoided) and the exposure is far from being extreme. Definitely best avoided in strong winds and poor visibility though.
@@thelonepeakbagger7434 cheers Mate for the info.
@@mjojrjr6231 You are very welcome. 🙂
@@thelonepeakbagger7434 hope you can add Helvellyn to your adventure, Mate. It's my favourite so far. I'm planning to do Ben Nevis this July.
@@mjojrjr6231 It's on my list indeed as are all the Wainwrights, but I'm based in France and don't have as much time to travel as I used to in the past few years. My priority will be to complete the Irish +500m (427/571 so far), but can't wait to be back the Lakes, Wales and Scotland too !!