The Ben Nevis II

See the previous post for how we got here: the arete to Ben Nevis.

Alice, Gerty and our new German friend Verena.  C&F are far ahead.
Photo: EW

Alice looking fabulous no matter where or when.
Photo: EW

EW on the arete.

We pick our way among the boulders. The going is slow and steady.  The weather is now the big question.  Rain would make this trek decidedly less interesting and a whole lot more scary. The wind is blowing hard.

Wards.
Photo: English hill walker

We meet up with a fellow hill walker, an englishman who is very excited to see us. Tourists on the arete!  He congratulates us for choosing the more authentic approach to the Ben.  Ahead, he says, we have a 500 meter scramble, an interesting one.  He points out the landmarks to keep in sight in case of rain.  He is up here searching for suitable boulders to use for a cairn for this shoulder of the arete. If the weather seriously deteriorates, he will abseil into the valley.

The interesting scramble takes about 30 minutes.  Then we are at the top.

56'47N, 05'00W
4429 feet
Photo: EW

At the top is a small shelter made out of the stones. We hunker down for a rest and sustenance.

Take the picture and come on over.  We're hungry.
Photo: EW

The clouds close in. Not much to see.  We experience the importance of cairns.
Photo: EW 

Atop Ben Nevis is Britain's highest war memorial.
photo: EW

The snow is wet and makes for tough going.  The wind is blowing and after eating we are cold.

We head down the front via the mountain track.

The terrain changes quickly to that of the more familiar.

9 hours later we are almost down.  Once again we are hot.

So that was the Ben.  Well done.

Onwards.