"The hidden side"
The north faces of Ben Nevis offers quite a wide range of skyrunning routes. My fav by far is the Tower Ridge mainly because of its length and exposure! In winter it is graded as Scottish Grade IV and in summer it is a scramble III with some easy climbing bits. Nevertheless it should not be underestimated and some previous experience with rock climbing and mountain running is required.
Nevis landscape partneship made very nice video about this spectacular route - it shows the real dimensions of Ben and Tower Ridge. Check " The Fine line" out! (Link below)
Nevis landscape partneship made very nice video about this spectacular route - it shows the real dimensions of Ben and Tower Ridge. Check " The Fine line" out! (Link below)
https://vimeo.com/173452960
"The perfect training trail"
As you probably know I do study in Scotland. I feel very privilaged to be based in Fort William where I have beautiful Highlands right at my doorstep! Hence Ben Nevis is my perfect training location because of its height and variety of terrain which this old Devonian volcano offers. In the map below I marked in violet my fav trail - the fine line! (red colour marks normal path up the Ben)
Since I do not own car I usually cycle or run everywhere. So sometimes I run, sometimes I cycle from the High Street , pass destilery and up to the end of the tree line where the violet arrow on the map is. From there I follow the track which goes up to CIC hut which is situated on the north side of Ben at 680 m.
I leave the track by CIC hut and ascend through the big scree field of the Observatory Gully from the left side of Douglas Boulder. Once I get from the scree on grassy ledges I traverse to the right until I got the Douglas Gap. From there a 20 metres chimney leads to the crest of the ridge - this bit and Tower Gap (later on) are probably the hardest sections of Tower Ridge for me.
Then I follow the ridge until the route cuts back left to follow the exposed ridge to beneath the Little Tower. Keep climbing until I reach Great Tower - this is where I go left - follow very narrow and exposed ledge also known as Eastern Traverse. After this I climb through the little tunnel created by fallen slab which is for me probably the safest place. I emerge from this and I find quite steep section of 70/80 degrees - technically it is only two or three difficult moves above 100 metres drop which makes your hands really sweaty. Then I get to the top of Great Tower from where I can see the last challenge the Tower Gap - very narrow ridge - where I have to downclimb two metres. The final part is relatively easy scramble up to the top of Ben Nevis.
From the top plateau I follow the normal path and cut the zigzag running straight down the Red Burn. At the Loch I turn right and follow the path which ends on the other side of the Loch. Then just 2k over the bog and I reach the place with violet arrow again! So that is the perfect trail for me - standard of Glencoe Skyline!
Three important pieces of equipment I use for Tower Ridge :
Backpack Gregory Maya
Trail running shoes Dynafit Feline
Black Diamond Vector helmet
Backpack Gregory Maya
Trail running shoes Dynafit Feline
Black Diamond Vector helmet