SUMMER SOLSTICE ON LEDGE ROUTE

Just on a whim I persuaded Barrie out for a jaunt up Ledge Route on Ben Nevis yesterday evening. I was away down south for the actual Summer Solstice so this evening was the closest and well near enough the date. So we set off at the North Face car park at 6pm just as the clouds were lifting off the tops. It was mild evening and we were soon up to the CIC and onto the route. This is the best grade 1 scramble in the area and Barrie was loving every minute of it. We made fast progress and were on the summit of The Ben before 10pm. Of course we weren't alone, a few folk recce- ing there challenge for the next morning, apparently dragging a motorised wheelchair up the Ben. The only thing that spoilt the day was the usual disgusting litter on the summit, there is even folk writing graffiti on the rocks on the summit area now, pathetic little individuals. Rant over! Barrie has taken up a new sport of 'Planking' which he demonstrated on the trig point. We descended without a soul in sight, very rare on The Ben. We made the car park without torches at midnight. A good night out in Fort William!