Home of Stuart Mapp
International Mountain Leader, Winter and Summer Mountain Leader
Blog for April 4th, 2016
April 4th, 2016
Ben Nevis from Youth Hostel
The second of three overcast, zero visibility days
Well today the start was from the Glen Nevis Hostel so that means an initial short sharp ascent
Deja Vu
It was almost a replay of yesterday (view blog), it was fairly dry ascending and visibility dropped very quickly once we reached the snowline
The navigation cairns were harder to see as snow and rime ice had been building up on them
The navigation cairns were harder to see as snow and rime ice had been building up on them
Navigation cairn nearly obscured by snow
Clients taking selfies on Ben Nevis summit
Now you see it
Walking on a bearing was required from the summit and also to locate the cairns
As we approached 1,200 metres whilst descending the visibility varied greatly with 2 or 3 navigation cairns coming into view. Then instantly they would disappear for several minutes so the compass was still needed
Below the snowline the mist was also sweeping in and out giving brief glimpses to Glen Etive
As we approached 1,200 metres whilst descending the visibility varied greatly with 2 or 3 navigation cairns coming into view. Then instantly they would disappear for several minutes so the compass was still needed
Below the snowline the mist was also sweeping in and out giving brief glimpses to Glen Etive
Mist clearing to reveal Glen Nevis
Devils Matchsticks near bottom of Youth Hostel path