The North Face

There is that awful feeling; like when you go to select and buy the Christmas tree on your own that it meets with collective approval at home. Despite best use of delegated powers I have previously come home with one that was badly shaped, or had gaping spaces between branches. For the record my selection for this most recent festive season seems to have been the best ever.
I have the same trepidation on the introduction of a new walk in case it is too muddy, too steep or the views don’t live up to the billing. I didn’t lie. The early approaches to the North Face climb in a series of well engineered steep zig-zags. This passes very quickly with the benefit of gaining much altitude with the minimum of effort. Upon reaching the top of the tree line and going through the gate there is that most welcoming open view of the Ben. My suggestion had been given the seal of glowing approval.
The North Face Path leads to the CIC hut and the starting point for many ice or rock climbing pitches on the North Face. It is also the most obvious approach if hill walkers wish to climb Ben Nevis via Carn Mor Dearg (say “Jerrack”) and avoid the crowds on the tourist path. We just had time to venture a short distance up from the gate, may be a mile, but we had a lot of ball flinging to keep Bob and Caley happy. You get fine views down the entire length of a shimmering Loch Eil and to the mountains lining the Great Glen to the north east. You only get one blip so it has got to be the North Face.
Like our walk to Lochan na h-Earba yesterday we spoke again about the lack of numbers on these beautiful paths through the mountains and concluded there are a small group of super fit mountain climbing folk using these routes as a means to an end yet hardly anyone just venturing out for a wee Sunday walk. Admittedly Ardverikie is quite a long way out but the North Face Path is just ten minutes drive from the town.
Bob’s family have just come to collect him. He was pleased to see his own folk again but I think he enjoyed his stays with us.