Ben Nevis via the CMD Arete - Alex Rambles
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- Ben Nevis. The highest mountain in Britain. This fact alone is enough to draw over 150,000 people every year to climb to its summit. I know many people who have climbed Ben Nevis but have climbed no other Scottish mountain. They probably went up the tourist route, as 75% of people who summit do. This is a shame because it does not reveal anything near the full majesty of what The Ben has to offer. See Ben Nevis has a sublime airy scramble accross jumbled boulders that provides a dramatic approach to the summit. This is the Carn Mor Dearg Arete, easily the superior hiker's route to the roof of Britain. As the intrepid pilgrim makes his way along the ridge, the prospect to the right is possibly one of the grandest of mountain scenes on these shores. The immense mass of the The Ben's North Face dominates this approach and serves as an intriguing contrast to the thin sagging arête that approaches it. However, it is not just the massive North Face that draws the eye. The glorious Mamores range is seen in profile to the south and across Corrie Giubhsachan the Aonach's Mor and Beag fill the horizon. However, all of this comes at a price. It is a long day with over 1500 metres of ascent. Great effort is spent merely reaching the arete - Carn Mor Dearg is the ninth highest mountain in Britain after all. Once you have left the tourists behind, the guidebooks often suggest a slog up the moss and boulder strewn western flank of Carn Mor Meadhonach, which is easily the most tedious section of the route. Nevertheless, do not be put off. I urge anyone thinking of climbing Ben Nevis to shun the mere facility provided by the Tourist Route and seek adventure on The CMD arete. If the exposure and scrambling get too much, there is usually a path to the left of the main ridge. Go on. Live a little. Hit the CMD arete. It is an ascent to be proud of.
![ผัวเถื่อน - ยูริ โตเกียวมิวสิค [ OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/P08ORRVDGl8/mqdefault.jpg)
absolutely awesome what a great way to experience Ben nevis, I hope to get up there one day and who knows maybe take the same rout, what a way to waken all your senses, TFS, Take Care,Les.
Good video. Thank you. Intrusive music almost ruins it.
God awful music ruins this!
Great video.
Just found your channel and love it! This route looks insane, can't wait to try it one day!
Ellie Giles Thanks for the kind words! It’s a great route. Even more fun as far as ridges go are Liathach and Aonach Eagach, you should have a look at those episodes!
One of the best videos I've watched on the CMD Arete which I'm planning on tackling in 3 weeks time.
Great video though I have to admit, my heart was in my mouth the whole time watching you. I'm attempting Ben Nevis on Monday via tourist path as I am definitely a sheep! Kind of apprehensive and scared now after seeing some videos on here though especially if there's 10 feet if snow haha. Great job though 🙂
Gopro's tend to make a ridgeline look very sharp due to the fisheye lens. The ridge isn't that dangerous at all, and is quite nice. In the winter though can be a bit rough as can't see the rocks under the snow
Hi Alex, great video and massive respect for actually walking over the top!... more guts than me!... with that said I'd still like to try the CMD route, but at 56, 18st and a hip replacement due is that trodden path to the side doable for a fat lorry 🚚 driver?!! 🤔😬😂... I am sooooo tempted to complete the three peaks (2 done, Scafell and Snowdon) and top last off with this route but I am apprehensive. Hmmm 🤔
Hey Graham! Yeah you’ll be fine! Have you done striding edge before? It’s not more difficult really and it’s not overly steep like a Crib Goch or anything.
Hi, thanks for reply. Yes we did Striding Edge last September, awesome day!.. In last year we've capped off Scafell Pike, Helvellyn and just last Friday, Mount Snowdon 😀 ⛰.. so I'm thinking of Big Ben via CMD come this September 👍... all being well 😀.
@@grahamsherry4788 You’ll love it. It’s not too dissimilar to Striding Edge. Possibly a bit more “out there” feeling and rockier. It’s also a much longer day than Helvellyn, Snowdon and Scafell, with over 5,500 feet of elevation gain.
You can compare it by checking out my article for Advnture: www.advnture.com/features/best-walks-in-the-uk
Cheers Alex, I'll have a look at that article. Thanks for reply and info, much appreciated 👍
Cheers Alex, I'll have a look at that article. Thanks for reply and info, much appreciated 👍
Thank you Alex, as your video and your video alone, has finally convinced my wife to try the CMD Arête ascent (weather permitting) when we visit in June 2020 😎🤩😇
Day Hiking for Oldies by Tim & Dinks She won’t regret it! It’s a great little route!
Hard to believe these mountains used to be the height of the himalayas. But they really were until time squashed them.
Great soundtrack, where did you get the music, had a search and couldn’t find it anywhere.?
Hi there! Thanks for the comment. It’s actually my own music. I get mixed reviews on TH-cam, not 100% sure it totally matches the visuals but hey ho!
thepsychedelicunderground.bandcamp.com/album/cosmos
Great shots, and whoa, some serious climbing there!
Did this route with friends a couple of years ago. The arete is the only time I've been quiet for an extended period of time! You didn't cover the boulder climb up to the summit of Ben Nevis (assuming we went the right way!). Was an amazing albeit tough day which I'd definitely like to do again one day.
Matthew Griffiths Check out my Cloud Inversion on Ben Nevis video - much more spectacular...
Yeah the boulder climb at the end doesn’t make for great footage really as it’s not that steep really. Just a bit of a clamber.
It’s such an epic route. Can’t wait to do it one day in full winter!
Like above just found your channel and this route looks awesome. Want to run BN but not whilst it’s crammed with tourists.
Running the CMD or Walking are you an experienced mountaineer or is it doable with care and are these Salomon shoes you have suffice as I have the same. Many thanks .
John mcniven .
I have a wee channel of a few routes in the Pentland shills outside Edinburgh if you fancy a look ( not on the same scale as your runs )
Also how long did it take in all.???
👍
John Mcniven Hi John! Doable in good summer conditions in Salomon. It’s a long day, probably 5 hours minimum from Glen Nevis. Awesome route though and very few “tourists” once you get past the halfway Lochan! I’ll check your films out! Have you watched my cloud inversion on Ben Nevis video? It wipes the floor with this one!
Alex Rambles on it mr Rambles.....
Also on insta johnmcniven58
Great video -did this 15yrs ago - fabulous day oot
Thanks Chris! It is a superb route!
Well done for sticking to the ridge not bottling it like many who claim to have 'done the ridge'. Your head cam I guess makes it pretty scary at times. On my list now thanks.
Cool video mate 🏔🤩🙌I'm going to be doing this when we eventually get some good weather haha thanks for sharing 👍
Thanks. Planning this route later this month with family. We have successfully trekked Snowdonia in 2019 and believe this can be done. Thanks for the beautiful video log of journey.
Another great video and great views. There is just one thing missing for me ,you didn't show the route up the Ben Nevis from the abseil point just after CMD Arete. It looks very steep from far away not sure though if its a loose scree or boulders..
Hi, gonna go summit Ben Nevis via CMD ridge this weekend. Isn't it easier and quicker to start from north face car park. Maps look like if I went over via tourist route I'd have to walk most of the way to north face car park before turning back and heading up the ridge.
Also, I'm gonna be cool without any climbing gear yeah, not experienced but more than capable. Done the tourist route twice
Yeah it might be easier from the North Face car park to be fair. Yeah no climbing kit needed. It’s a fairly easy grade one scramble. If you’ve done similar ridges before you’ll be fine! Enjoy it!
Great vid Alex o the CMD route! Me & the lads are plannin on this trail for next years season. Video was great info & amazing to see the terrain coming our way. I'll share round with the lads
Excellent cinematography. Its on my to do list God willing!
Would you recommend this if it’s raining?
Hard to say, I’ve not done it in the rain. There is a bypass most of the way so it’s not too difficult even if there’s rain. It’s a long route though, so might be a bit miserable in the wet haha!
@@alexfoxfield8517 thanks
How would you compare this to Helvellyn, Mate?
A much longer day but CMD Arête not too much more technical than Striding Edge. It’s longer, rockier but probably not quite as narrow.
@@alexfoxfield8517 that's nice to hear Mate. How about the last push before the summit? Is it same or more longer than Helvellyn?
@@mjojrjr6231 last push longer. Everything is longer haha!
@@alexfoxfield8517 Hahaha, need to be ready for that 🤣 We will do wild camp halfway then push the next day to the summit. Hopefully that helps break the distance. 😝👍
I'm under the impression that you take the tourist route to start with,and then branch off for the cmd route.is this correct?
I'm due to bag my 1st munro this year and this is one now on the shortlist
ken johnson Yea that’s right. You follow the tourist route as far as the halfway Lochan before heading around to Coire Leis. It’s up to you where you decide to clamber up onto the Carn Mor Dearg Ridge but whatever you decide it is fairly tedious! Once up though it is sublime!
Yeah,I'll bet it's sublime! I've seen a few videos and even though I have no experience,it looks doable. thanks for letting me know
Great video - I'll be there in September and intend to take this route. It's super helpful to see so much of the arete. Well done and thanks for posting this!
Great work my friend.
It was this video that inspired me to climb Big Ben. Before I knew it there was 4 of us on the CMD arete having a day we will never forget for all the right reasons
Ah that’s such a lovely thing to hear Dan! What are you gonna do next? Aonach Eagach is a good step up (in summer conditions).
Not sure what we'll go for next Alex but I'll have a look at that one you recommend. Let's hope this summer sees an end to travel restrictions so we can all hit the mountains properly 💪
Hello Alex, 2 questions, how long in miles or Km is the CMD arête and how many hours dit d it take you to climb the Ben Nevis. Looks like the Katahdin and his Knife Edge.
Pierre Lesage Hello Pierre! The arete itself is about one kilometre long. It takes about 5-7 hours by the route in this video. Tourist path to the Lochan and then across to Carn Mor Dearg. Back down by the tourist path. The arse itself is not scary, not as narrow as Crib Goch in Snowdonia or Aonach Eagach on Glencoe.
Well, thank for this realy, I mean realy fast and your precise response. We expect to go there in next may and it will be the project for our last day after 8 days on the WHW. If you get time, take a lokk on videos about the Knife edge of the Katahdin on north east of Maine, USA.
Couldn't agree more.
Great video and editing. Do you mind if I ask what youre filming on?
P. S - Subscribed because of this video 😊
I would recommend the tourist route, and should rather warn people off such a dangerous but exhilarating arête route as this. It's a challenge best avoided.
Don't be silly. It dangerous.