On the day before Eileen and I walked up the gorge at Glen Nevis, partly for fun and exercise and partly for me to judge whether to climb the Aonachs or Sgurr Choinnich Mor. I was a bit worried that the former would be too tough for me, as I would be on my own and with me as usual not sure I was up to it. But from the ground it didn't look too bad and I knew that once up there on Aonach Beag the other hill wouldn't be too far away. So the Aonachs it was to be.
Lovely morning and quite clear bar a few odd patches of mist. Up Glen Nevis easily and left the main path just by the Steall ruin. If, however, there is any path up Aonach Beag then I missed it. First there is a slog up grassy slopes towards crags which looked to be the top of the SW ridge but which simply led to further slopes, albeit on slightly easier terrain. Just when I thought I must be getting near the top I found myself in an area where in front of me was yet another steep grassy climb, almost like a wall. This looked again like a ridge. And it was. A bit easier to climb than it looked but I still don't know if what I did was the right way or if I had deviated and made it more awkward to get to this ridge. Whatever, once on it the ridge began to narrow and I knew that I was going in the right direction. After this the slope got progressively easier and I was soon at the cairn. Again whether it was my age, unfitness or wrong routing it took me 5 hours to reach this summit from the car park. Absolutely glorious views of Ben Nevis and the CMD arête.
I had half expected to give up on reaching Aonach Beag but once at the top Aonach Mor looked so close it would have been crazy not to do it. Quick descent, though I found the path going further downhill than I wanted before realising I had somehow veered off the main path. No problem getting back onto the right path, but vaguely wondered if what I had taken was the path off the hill down to the stream. Across the col and up to the summit in no time at all. So easy I couldn't believe the cairn in front of me was the summit - as usual other areas around looked higher. Also the book says that the summit can be difficult to find in poor visibility whereas this cairn had such a prominent path to it there was no missing it. Just then a chap turned up - I had previously watched him going up Aonach Beag via the Sgurr a'Bhuic ridge - and he confirmed this was indeed the summit. Seemed to be the sort of person who just wandered the hills as he felt. This time he was going to go down to the cafe at the top of the chairlift, ring his wife who would come up with their daughter, have a cup of tea and then give him a lift back. A good arrangement. I forgot to get him to take a photo of me at the cairn. When I told him of my going down the wrong path coming off Aonach Beag he said he had actually done the same thing and he agreed it was probably the path down to the river. What a big mistake it was that I accepted this and completely forgot that the book had said go down to the bealach under Carn Mor Dearg. Well I certainly paid for my mistake. Reaching the path again at the foot of Aonach Beag it certainly went down but only for a few yards then petered out into steep grass, rocks, scree and crags. The book says that other than the recommended route the ground is very steep. It is indeed and it was a nightmare for me. Too much trouble to go back up I persevered but more than once wondered if I would be ending up with the mountain rescue. Certainly a slip at times would not have been advisable. Eventually, and to my relief, the slope eased off and I was able to reach the burn. By this time the way I should have come off was quite clear. Still this way did get me further down the valley nearer home. The path leads through some boggy land, where the burn meanders on a level area, and at the end of this you find you are still quite a height up, and it is a steep rocky path down on tired legs back to the ruin at Steall. From there the route back is easy, but a struggle when you are very tired. After 7.00 when I got down, one of the longest days I have had on the hills.
