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East spur of Carn Dearg Meadhonach
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Map
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Photos
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| This delightful little route is tucked away in a secluded glen between the busy winter climbing venues of Ben Nevis and Aonach Mor. It takes advantage of the access provided by the Nevis Range gondola to save the legs and maximise the time spent high above the snowline.
The highlight of the day is a wintery scramble up the east spur of Carn Dearg Meadhonach. When viewed in profile from the glen, the soaring towers on the spur appear impassable but, in reality, they are relatively straightforward to overcome. |
| Area: |
Central Highlands, just north of Fort William
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Grade:
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Winter II (easy) what does that mean? |
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Total Distance:
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9.5 km
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Total Ascent:
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850 m
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Time:
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5½ hours
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| Maps: |
Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 Sheet 41
Ordnance Survey Explorer 392 1:25,000
Harvey Ben Nevis Map 1:25,000
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| Avalanche hazard: |
The main hazards are on the approach but even here it should be fairly safe unless there has recently been a heavy snowfall. |
| Avalanche Forecast area: |
Lochaber. more |
| Gear: |
Take a 25-metre rope and some slings. |
| Tips: |
In winter there is a walker/climber's gondola at 8:00 am, whereas the main service commences at 9:30 am. The last gondola down is usually around 4 pm but check opening/closing times with the resort to ensure normal operation. Currently, the gondola costs £8.50 for walkers/climbers. www.nevisrange.co.uk |
| Alternatives: |
If you have the time and energy, you could combine this route with the CMD (Carn Mor Dearg) Arete and an ascent of Ben Nevis. Golden Oldie on the west face of Aonach Mor, on the opposite side of the glen, is a popular winter ridge route. It is also grade II but is harder than the east spur of Carn Dearg Meadonach. |
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Start Park at the Nevis Range Ski Resort. This is located on the A82, about 7 km north of Fort William, and the turn-off is clearly sign-posted. Buy a walker/climber's ticket which enables you to take the gondola to the top station at 650 m on Aonach Mor. Grid Reference NN171773. |
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Approach When you alight from the gondola, walk along a level ski-track in a WSW direction, passing below a chairlift, and head towards the minor summit marked on some maps as Meall Beag. Shortly before reaching this summit, you will find a large cairn. Leave the track here and descend into the glen beyond. Traverse across the hillside in a southerly direction to minimise the height loss as you head towards Carn Dearg Meadhonach. This is made easier if you follow the natural terraces that seem designed for the purpose. |
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East spur of Carn Dearg Meadhonach Eventually the terraces lead you to the floor of the glen. Walk alongside the right (west) bank of the stream for another 700 m, then cross it and start slanting up the steep slopes towards the east spur of Carn Dearg Meadhonach. Ascend the rocky ridge, avoiding difficulties on the left where necessary. The rope may be needed for descending the second tower. However, the problems are short-lived and the spur soon brings you out directly onto the main ridge and the summit of Carn Dearg Meadhonach. | Escape Route! | | It's not far to the next and final summit of the day - Carn Mor Dearg - but if the weather is really foul, it is possible to head NNE along the main ridge (watch out for cornices on the east side of the ridge) for about 2 km, crossing a lower summit - Carn Beag Dearg - and descend to your right into the glen where you can pick up your tracks back to the gondola. |
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Carn Mor Dearg (1220m) From the summit of Carn Dearg Meadhonach, continue in a SSE direction along the main ridge to Carn Mor Dearg. Watch out for large cornices on your left (E). |
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Descent From the summit cairn, pick up the well-defined ridge heading east. Descend this ridge until you reach the bealach (col) between Carn Mor Dearg and Aonach Mor. |
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Return Continue descending in a northerly direction until you pick up your tracks back to the gondola. Unfortunately, this means there is some re-ascent to end the day! |
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