Trip to Ben nevis - camera advice

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HI All

I am going to fort william and the Ben nevis area this Easter weekend and of course will be taking my camera.I am going with friends who will be ski-ing and will travel upto the ski centre with them then walk back to fort william while they are on the slopes.

I am unsure the best way to incorperate my walking gear and camera gear. I will be taking a rucksac with torch, map, first aid kit etc but unsure what to do with camera gear :help:


any advice will be appreciated :bang:
 
Normal camera bag will be fine , keep your batteries near your body to keep them warm , then pop them in the camera when needed :D
 
In the mountains it can get very wet very quickly (especially in Scotland) and even a decent bag with rain cover will eventually end up completely soaked when its blowing at you in all directions.

I usually take a dry bag with me to put my camera in to ensure it stays completely dry. Ive used these on canoe trips and boat trips and even swum to shore from a boat with gear in them and so long as you close them properly they are watertight.

They do them in all manner of sizes so you could get one to fit your camera bag in inside your rucksack or get one just big enough to put your camera in on its own, if doing that you will need some extra padding round that because they aren't padded. They sell them in most good outdoor, camping, sailing shops.

http://www.over-board.co.uk/catalog//bwaterproof-bags-and-casesb/dry-tube-bags/index.30_23.html
 
Best keep an eye on the weather reports.
Today there are blizzards. The Gondola and lifts are all closed for the day due to the storm.
I'd expect a lot of snow up there.
 
The Ben at this time of year with snow is a force to be reckoned with, ice axe and crampons are possibly needed to stop you and your gear taking one hell of a tumble.

Glen Nevis has some great photo oportunities too, should the weather be too foul higher up, don't worry the troll shown will be away!!
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I would add don't be tempted to take too much camera gear with you. It's amazing how heavy it can get at the end of a long trek.

Try and be selective about what you take.
 
thanks for the advice everyone

my plan so far is to take my berghaus ruck sack with my walking gear (lunch, map, compass, first aid kit, torch, emergency gear etc) and a camera holster attached to the front (my camera with my 50mm prime). Other gear will be kept in pockets of my gore tex (batteries) and a other lens (28-200mm in a bag in my bag in a waterproof padded case.

any further advice appreciated and thoughts about a tripod ?
 
Tripod too much, probably not enough time, but walking poles with an adaption to act as a monopod are ideal.
Forecast is dire and lots of wet snow up there, take care, enjoy and show us the pics when your back.
 
As said before, weather can be tricky in Scotland, especially in the hills.
Have a UV, because it is likely you'll be taking out lots of water out of the lens, protect your camera if it needs it.
Have a rain cover for the bag.
Monopods can double as a decent walking stick.
Take care when you get back with condensation, changing from very cold to a warm pub or car can create a lot of condensation, a plastic bag with most of the air removed should help.

Enjoy the trail!
 
and make sure somebody know where you left from, and what time you are supposed to meet at the end of your descent

mobile phone ?
 
thanks again

I have route plans that will be completed and passed on to are sponsible adult on the day along with update text to back home so they know safe.

plan to take monopole and rain cover for camera, and after checking the weather seems like its going to be clear and bright so looking forward to it even more.

Am going up in the gondola to see the view and see my friends off onto the lifts but then plan to get the gondola back down and walk back into fort william through the via the forrest footpaths


cant wait ..................................
 
It's minus 10 on ground level in the Highlands this evening, make sure you and your camera have some proper clothing!
There has also been drifting snow over the past couple of nights, although it has calmed down today!
 
nikonal said:
It's minus 10 on ground level in the Highlands this evening, make sure you and your camera have some proper clothing!
There has also been drifting snow over the past couple of nights, although it has calmed down today!
Click to expand...

typical Spring day then....................:D
 
have been keeping my eye on the weather and am an semi experienced walker (although first time upto scotland and first time out for a while) so have all the necessary clothing & gear and am refreshing my knowledge.The challenge for me is to incorperate my camera into the mix and stop to enjoy the scenery, take pics while being safe and getting from A to B.

from what I have seen the whole area is one big photo oppurtunity so plan to spend more time taking pics than executing the paratroopers route march carrying a 60lb pack

thanks for all the advice and help with my thread it has made me stop and think about my trip and what to include and helped me refresh and think with my outdoor walking brain.

any further advice and comments welcome
 
A drybag and travel towel (added padding) is invaluable for when it starts chucking it down. Any photo gear goes in drybags when I go for a hike, plus it keeps things together and easier to find in a non-camera bag. I'd highly suggest them. You can get crushbags as well, they have a padded liner in them for extra security.
 
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