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A friend and I are thinking of trying the Ben on Oct 2nd.

I am an experienced Mountaineer but my friend not so.

I was wondering about weather trends for this time of year, plainly its going to be misty, windy and wet, but wot about bad weather at this time?

Its a long and expensive way to go from Bristol so trying to weigh up the risks here.

Sanhozay, many thanks for your input. I have tried to search for historic weather trends for October but as suspected, this could be anything from wet and cloudy to thigh deep snow, so I guess I need to take a balanced view where possible.

Tar-paullynn , I suppose I deem experience, in my personal case as; 30years in English and Welsh Hills, ML qualified, summits of Mera, Imjatse, Amphu Labsa, Ama Dablam, Elbrus, Mont Blanc, Denali and a failed summit bid on Aconcaqua, + the very best and VERY worst experiences a Mountain can offer from -42C and force 9 gales to fatal falls from the Lhotse face.

However, I once did the Ben (in Sep` 92 with a fellow squadie, albeit a woodentop), but have no other hands on knowledge of going up it (or many Scottish peaks) on the cusp of winter conditions. Particulary with a Lay friend. Thus I invite intelligent and valued insights to conditions at that time so I might make a well deliberated decision.

But I guess that just experience talking ;-)

Cheers

Lee

Quote: Originally posted by leebarker1 on 18/9/2010

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Thus I invite intelligent and valued insights to conditions at that time so I might make a well deliberated decision.

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James

Many thanks for this sound advice indeed. I appreciate the straight talk, and as an Ex Gunner, Im rather pleased to hear it.

You might note my comments to Tar paullynn on the 4th mail ante which you will see I would concur (in a roundabout way) with your view.

I have no problem with his physical fitness and as the sole organiser of the Dartmoor Beast I (along with a string of Bootnecks) can vouch for this. I cannot acertain what his mental robustness will be like when on a bigger hill and how prepared he will be to turn around without question if I decide to call it.

Im quite sure he doesnt know what hes is up for as hes a bit too keen. So the onus is firmly on me to call the shots.

Its not really the task of yomping up and down it, its the weather risk which is the biggest question. He has no winter (snow and ice) skills either and whislt I have spare kit, I dont believe I have suffient time to ensure he is reasonably well practiced in the arts to be competant and not a risk to anyone.

So Im feeling  very very cautious about the whole thing.

The flip side is I want him to summit (and return), safely, and push himself to a new limit and experience the higher hills and all they offer. Hopefully he will get the urge to do a winter course thereafter.

As he has already now booked the flights, I need to make sure we have a plan B if its a nogoer, for whatever reason. Nearest distillery probably.!

Many thanks to all for posting here. Apologies if I was a bit too harsh Tarpaulynn.!

Cheers all

Lee

Interestingly, I was just chatting to the guys in Ellis Bingham in Fort William who sugested that an assent in October is normally regarded as a summer assent, not normally requiring winter tools or skills.

"Expect wet snow on the top, good boots and poles would be order of the day".

I know someone who went up with a party on a sponsored walk.  Some of them were laughing at his ice-axe.  They weren't laughing when some of them strayed down towards five finger gully and he had to go down and cut steps for them.  I think that was spring though with winter snow still standing on upper slopes and gullies.

The locals should know what to expect though. 

Quote: Originally posted by leebarker1 on 20/9/2010

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Apologies if I was a bit too harsh Tarpaulynn.

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There's a visitor's centre at the beginning of the tourist route up the Ben, if you give them a call they'll be able to give you advice.

http://www.highland.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/what-to-see/visitorcentres/glennevisvisitorcentre.htm

Tel: (01397) 705922
Fax: (01397) 706278
E: glen.nevis at highland.gov.uk

The Visitor Centre  is open all year. Opening times are 9am to 5pm

If you stay at the Glen Nevis campsite at the foot of Ben Nevis you can keep an eye on the weather forecasts and choose your best day(s) for attempting the climb.

http://www.glen-nevis.co.uk

Another thing that might be worth doing while your up there is a visit to the Nevis Range.  They've got cable cars up into the mountains.

http://snowsports.nevisrange.co.uk/

Quick update.

All now and briefed.

I have been in Scotland all week and Watching the weather. Saturday on the Ben was clear, dry, slight breeze, v cold but fantastic views.

Next Saturday, "the event itself" predicted wet snow and gale force winds and thick cloud.

Of course, what else would I have expected..! Lol

Will post an update as and when