UKH

We've got 3 days to enjoy this weekend having long planned to hit the late season ice that sadly won't be in evidence.

We'll doubtless aim for a classic Nevis ridge and hope to leave a couple of footprints in the odd snow patch. However, I'm looking for suggestions for some mountaineering routes we might enjoy.

Considering The Great Ridge on Garbhein and the NE Ridge of Aonach Beag. Already pondered Curved and Crowberry Ridges. Recommendations welcomed.

In reply to BnB:

tower ridge !

In reply to lithos:

Isn't that one of the classic Nevis ridges I mentioned in the OP? Still 2 days to fill

In reply to BnB:

NE Buttress should fill another day, unless you're keen to do them both in one!

In reply to BnB:

Sure you've considered it, but Aonach Eagach is an obvious option.

There's a supposedly good broken Grade 3 long scrambly ridge on one of the other Ardgour Corbetts - can't remember name off top of my head but it's in Dan Bailey's ridges book - maybe worth a punt for a more wild off-the-beaten-track option?

In reply to fuzzysheep01:

NE Ridge of Sgurr Ghuibhsachain, basically a string of outcrops up a broad shoulder and not really comparable to the others mentioned. Still fun though, and improved if you start up the long slabs low down on the left. Nice wild place.
To the OP.
Other routes worth considering are Golden Oldie on Aonach Mor (slog to reach but the top arete is brill).
Sron na Lairig.
Barn Wall/R Edge/Dorsal Arete.
No. 1 and No 3 Buttressses on Stob Coire nam Beith (start of 3 is at least VD and E1 leaders have found it hard, but you can avoid it on the left, top of 1 is hard too, but there's a good finish further left, above the huge pinnacle block with the arch).
Great Ridge, NEB Aonach Beag and Crowberry are still better than all these though.

In reply to BnB:

it is indeed, if you'd added the word 'other' I'd not have misunderstood it.

Id' second the AE.

In reply to Iain Thow:

Is Golden Oldie good as a spring scramble then? I've done the neighbouring Daim Buttress in winter. Also done AE, Sron Na Lairig, Curved Ridge etc

In reply to BnB:

Yes, the arete on the top is still brilliant and the scrambling below is fine. Still a slog to reach though. Solitaire further right is OK too, but definitely Diff, with a tricky start unless you come in by a long traverse from the left.

In reply to Iain Thow:

Might give that a look then, especially if the gondola is running. Could then make a shorter day between two big ones

In reply to BnB:

Have fun!

In reply to BnB:

The NE Ridge of Aonach Beag is a fine jaunt, with some tricky parts and a great snow ridge at the end...and all just a bit higher on the esoteric scale than the others you mention.

Just don't do what we did, turn the pinnacles the wrong side, get stuck on a chossy ledge system for hours, hit the top in the gloaming, and have to walk down the Aonach Mor bike track in pitch black.

Would still do it again tho (turn left this time).

Nick

In reply to fozzybear:

Surely you pass the pinnacles on the right? Looks awfully steep on the left.

In reply to BnB:

As OPs have said G Oldy goes well in spring and has a path showing the route in places once you are on it. The granite can be a little lichenous. NE R of AB is a good big day out and if done without a dry spell can also be quite slimey at the crux. Great Ridge on Garbh Bheinn feels more like an easy climb than Tower Ridge which is less sustained but Pinnacle Ridge on the same hill is great if you want easier mountaineering. Crowberry Ridge is definitely more of a rock climb than the others.

In reply to BnB:

North Buttress followed by a descent of Curved Ridge makes a nice scramble on the Buachaille.

In reply to AlH:

Thanks for all the suggestions guys