Hi Caroline.
Good morning all.
An interesting thread. I can’t remember anything too onerous about WS2, WS3 or WS44 but as I remember there might have been some steep ground coming off WS7 but I cut it out going up by a mistake with a right fork which should have been left. However where I cut up it was steep too. WS69 I haven’t done.
For WS2 I have used the cable car in all activations so far. After that it’s just a walk anyway. The last bit is maybe comparable to going up Fairfield but nothing exposed that I can remember, albeit everybody has different limits; I know I do!
For WS3 (& WS1) walk up from the forest car park NN 1450 7638 (sometimes called the north face car park I think) near Torlundy. I turned left off the main path over vegetation but then to find a decent path taking me to the top of WS3, though it’s rather indistinct once on the stony top. There must be a link between the main path and this one but as yet I haven’t found it or been able to research it. The first time in 1998 I didn’t find any of that path so my son and I had just bash up. I can’t remember any problems with narrow ridges on WS3.
I know you have no plans for it but the Arete after WS3 to access WS1 is really nothing to worry about in summer. It looks quite bad but Striding Edge or Sharpe Edge are greater challenges in my opinion.
All I can do is offer old reports which you may have already seen or even commented on at the time (WS7). I can also offer a .gdb or convert to a .gpx route for anybody who wants to go via the standard ascents but I fully understand why you are looking at other possibilities.
WS44:
WS7:
WS2:
WS3 & WS1 (Old Reflector so no photos I’m afraid and I never got round to adding them to flickr so I will try to find some for you later):
73, John.
……………………………
G3RMD Frank’s 11-year-old request fulfilled at last!
WS3, CMD, WS1 Photos 23-09-2008:
Photos: 7-11-16-21-41-43-44-45-55-59-62-72-80-97-100-125-131-137 ( all suffix ‘a’). The early ones are a bit dark as it’s quite early morning.
Above: Path to GM/WS-003 from Torlundy (looking back)
Above: Path to WS3 from Torlundy (looking upward before zig-zags)
Above: Heading for CMD. Onto ridge just before Carn Dearg Meadhonach. Looking NW.
Above: WS3 ahead. No need to walk overlooking left aspect
Above: WS3 summit looking down to Fort William. Ben Nevis N.face to left
Above: CMD Arete from WS3
Above: Path to WS3 from Torlundy (looking upward before zig-zags)
Above: WS3 Activation and path coming up from Torlundy
Above: WS3 summit looking down to Fort William
Above: WS3 activation. Arete and Ben Nevis N.face to right
………………………………………………………………………….
…and if you want to go further:
Above: WS3 end of arete and a walker crossing
Above: CMD Arete. Choices of route out of wind
Above: CMD Arete - not as bad as it may look
Above: CMD Arete looking back towards WS3. Walker called Bradley
Above: Ben Nevis end of CMD Arete with abseil point. WS3 left of centre. Aonoch Mor further away to right
Above: CMD Arete from slopes of Ben Nevis with Aonoch Mor & Aonoch Beag WS2 (right) behind
Above: Ben Nevis WS1 summit and actiivation
Above: Ben Nevis WS1 summit and (assumed) helicopter exercise
Above: Ben Nevis WS1 summit and helicopter hovering above north face
I hope you get around to doing one or more of these Caroline and I hope you get good WX. I still have B.E. Beag to do so I’d like to go back again. Good luck.
73, John
G4YSS