Ben Nevis Weekend - March 2024
“Fantastic trip up Ben Nevis in beautiful winter snow. Chris was the perfect guide, showing us winter skills - how to use an ice axe, how to locate avalanches, and using a compass to reach the summit in a complete exhilarating white- out! I would highly recommend Fit4_adventures for a trekking holiday.”
From an initial group of 5 booked, last minute work commitments and illness brought the group down to just an intimate duo! Fewer people to share the mountains but more flexibility to make it tailored to our guests. The pair joined us in Morocco last year and luckily for us they brought the same positivity and amazing energy to fill the void left by our missing team!
For both Clive and John, it was their first time in winter so the emphasis for Saturday was to get into crampons, don the ice axe and seek out some of the best views in the Highlands! From the infamous Three Sisters carpark, we ventured into the hidden valley and were rewarded with waterfalls, gorges and the unlikely pastures valley tucked away out of sight. This is where the Scottish Clan of Macdonald hid away their livestock during the Glencoe Massacre before losing 30 members to the battle against the state in 1692. The hidden valley was dusted with a beautiful covering of snow and we continued up the valley to where the snow became thicker, a great chance to get out the axes and crampons for a play! Clive and John quickly got to grips with the winter kit as we tested it out on steeper and steeper ground. Now competent and confident on the snow we retreated back to the car, with countless photo opportunities along the way and great snack spots!
The first day was not only a chance to test out the legs and equipment but also to get our layering of clothes spot on for Ben Nevis on Sunday! After an early breakfast, we were walking from Glen Nevis by 8am on our adventure to the summit. The team summed it up well, the mountain can be split in three parts; 1) the green shires at the bottom, 2) baron, wind scoured region in the middle, and 3) the hostile white-out conditions on the summit plateau. Luckily for us the blizzard like conditions at the top provided excitement and a bit of a battle, but this was only temporary and after a dash to the summit following the trusty compass bearing we were quickly out of the clouds and back into the more pleasant conditions. Both Clive and John handled the weather expertly, head down and counting down the steps. We were even able to capture the moment with some classic looking ‘adventurer’ shots by the summit! We collected a couple who were lost on the summit and they joined our train as we navigated our way out of the clouds.
Over the weekend we’re confident to say that the team were able to see both the beauty and severity Scottish Winter offers. Hopefully giving a teaser for why Scottish winter is so special but also why it deserves a level of respect if you want to stay safe in the mountains!
