TGO Challenge 2025

Day 5  Ben Nevis to Meanach bothy.

The rain had all gone and the first arrivals were appearing in the sunshine and fresh breeze by 7.30!

The way down to the CMD Arete

The late arrivals were doing some charity event that requires people to do crazy things, they had decided to walk up The Ben at night and camp on the top but when they got there found they couldn't camp!

The CMD Arête 

Today's figures don't reflect the true difficulty of today's route. The descents were mainly through boulder fields and most of the ascent at 45°.

The descent through the boulders towards Carn Mor Dearg was slow and tricky even though it was dry and the wind threatened to blow me off the arête.

Looking down to the Bealach from part way up Anoch Mor

The descent of the east ridge is almost as bouldery but everything went well until I reached some grass and proceeded to go ass over tit!

Anoch Mor 

There is a path up from the beach to Anoch Mor but in common with another Challenger I met on the top we both failed to find the start of it and struggled up the extremely steep, rocky slope.

The Ben from Anoch Mor

The top of Anoch Mor is a fairly level and it was an easy walk out to the summit and back before another climb to Anoch Beag.

Cornice between Anochs Mor and Beg

Another steep but easier descent and a short climb to the Munro top of Sgirr a-Bhuic before descend an initially steep grass gully and then diagonally across the slope towards the Glen Nevis watershed.

Fellow Challenger descending Anoch Beg

I decided to would carry on to Meanach bothy where I thought there would be other Challengers but it was empty. I pitched outside as it was much more inviting in the sunshine than the dark bothy interior. 

Glen Nevis watershed 

A short but tough days walking.

10 miles walked 900 meters ascent 1900 meters descent!