CMD Arete

Hi,

We are thinking of doing the CMD arete for the first time soon, but I am not sure how suitable the route will be with a dog in tow. Advice from anyone who knows the route would be gratefully received.

Thanks!

met a guy couple of years ago with collie in tow, got chatting and he said this was about the third time for the dog.
quite a lot of bolders especially up the flank of ben nevis so it would req your dog to be agile and sure footed, unlike my lab which is still a bit timid when it comes to slippy paws and she does not like sliding.
hope this helps, as it is a most enjoyable walk.

Although I've only done it once, if you're dog is used to mountains then I don't see you have much problem. I'd read quite a bit about the arete beforehand and was expecting something much worse. We went across when it was wet with patches of ice and snow with gale force winds blowing across it, and it wasn't bad at all really.

James

I htink much depends on the individual dog. Ive often taken dogs up easy scrambly bits (mongrels with collie tendancies) - and they've usually been OK with occasional help - eg on the step on Striding Edge. If your dog is small enough to be lifted, and wont object to being manhandled (you wouldnt want fido to take a chunk out of your face as you're lifting him up a rockstep) - and will sit and stay when told to let you get into a position to help the dog - then its reasonably safe. CMD would be within the capabilities of many dogs, I would have thought. We took two dogs over Crib Goch and they coped without any problems at all. Be warned, though that I once had to carry a 19kg dog for 4 miles - and, later, cough up £70 in vets fees after the dog blobbed off a fairly easy scrambly bit - so there are risks. I tend to keep the pooch on a long line nowadays to prevent any similar accidents.

Deepends on the dog, my current black lab would have no problems. I have uploaded a couple of pictures that I took on the cmd arete, I have circle the awkward bit that mainly consists of large boulders, unfortunately no detailed pics of that bit.
Link

Thanks very much for the advice. Great photos Reiver - I hope we get views like that when we are there! I think we will take the dog. I think he should be fine. He normall has a wobbly moment at the first obstacle, but once he realises he can do it you can't hold him back.

Katie,

the only time I've ever done that route was in a blizzard without a dog.

Hope that helps.

That's a very good photo of CMD, I have only done it once in thick cloud - it shouldn't pose too great a difficulty for a four footed friend.