Aonach Mòr
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| Aonach Mòr | |
|---|---|
 Distant shot of Aonach Mòr from Banavie |
|
| Elevation | 1,221 m (4,006 ft) |
| Location | Highland,  Scotland |
| Range | Grampians |
| Prominence | c. 134 m |
| Parent peak | Aonach Beag |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 41 |
| OS grid reference | NN193729 |
| Listing | Munro |
| Translation | Big ridge (Gaelic) |
| Pronunciation | [ɯnəx moːr] |
Aonach Mòr is a mountain in the Highlands of Scotland. It is located about 2 miles/ 3 km north east of Ben Nevis on the south side of Glen Spean, near the town of Fort William . The Nevis Range ski area is located on the northern slopes of the peak; the use of this name has inspired some controversy, as it has been considered by some to represent a deliberate changing of an indigenous name.
The name Aonach Mòr implies that the mountain is bigger than its close neighbour to the south, Aonach Beag (small ridge), to which it is linked by a high bealach. However Aonach Mòr is 13 metres lower than Aonach Beag; the names refer to the relative bulk of the mountains when seen from the valley, rather than their altitude above sea level.
The ski resort features a gondola lift and several chairlifts and ski tows. In winter these are used for skiing and snowboarding; in summer the gondola is used for lifting riders to the top of the downhill mountain biking track.
The easiest route of ascent is to simply take the gondola to the top station (a height of 650 m (2,100 feet) above sea level), and walk the remaining way. More traditionally, the hill is often climbed from the south from Glen Nevis; the walker thus avoiding the paraphernalia associated with the ski development. Aonach Mòr is almost invariably climbed in conjunction with Aonach Beag.
The Nevis Range resort has hosted the Mountain Bike World Cup four times (2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005), and is due to host the Mountain Bike World Championships in 2007.
[edit] Cable car collision
On 13 July 2006 the gondola lift was involved in a crash. According to BBC News, 5 people were injured, including a three-year-old girl and a 52-year-old man who was described as being in a "critical" condition. [1]. Early reports incorrectly described the accident as happening on the adjacent mountain of Ben Nevis which has no gondola lift.[2] The cable car system was reopened at 10:00h on 25th July 2006. [3]
Aonach Mor's Coire an Lochain holds one of Scotland's longest lasting snow-patches (grid reference NN193736), which sits at an altitude of 1120m.
