Garbh Bheinn seen after
finishing the walk today

The morning forecast said that rain would come and go during the morning. I was tempted to lie in but I'm a morning person - once I'm up I get bored quickly I needed to walk.

The spare time at Glen Coe gave me the perfect - though shameful - excuse to climb the individual Aonach Eagach munros piece meal starting with the western summit today. This would mean that I could avoid the narrow ridge in between - leave it for the summer.

I set off alone again before the rain arrived. The slopes leading to the bealach before the Pap of Glencoe where a heathery steep slog though a good path was met higher up. Not long after leaving the youth hostel the rain arrived but I was soon above the freezing level and so was spared a total drenching. The winds weren't as strong higher up as forecast - indeed it remained fairly steady all the way up - though chilly.

The ascent of the ridge leading to the summit ridge was stony and icy - not the nicest conditions. I got my axe out when the slopes turned even more slippery though my trekking pole would have to be stowed away fully extended as it had frozen up - indeed my waterproofs and rucksac had practically turned into a block of ice!

Once on the broad summit ridge I had periodic whiteouts to contend with. The whiteouts themselves weren't a problem - it was the pain of snow in the face that was the problem. Up here, little new snow was settling - it was all drifting into the northern corries. I reached the summit trigpoint surrounded by a circular stone barrier and then retraced my steps.

Halfway down to the bealach I met two others who caught up with me. We were all now heading for the Pap. The snow stopped briefly but it was only upon reaching the Pap of Glencoe summit that I could see see blue sky extending in from the west. It was 12.30pm.

The ascent of the Pap is simple though rocky and steep in places - there is the option to do some short scrambles or circumvent those to the north.

The descent was slow - finally the zip to my camera pouch became unfrozen and I could take the last picture in the film - though it turned out to be foggy.

The famous Aonach Dubh

Stob Coire an Lochain

A good day overall though tomorrow was forecast to be a washout with storms on top. Another rest day - this time in Oban - must be going soft with old age!

The Dramatic Aonach Eagach ridge

After the washout of yesterday, we were given a one day good weather window. I had the company of Alaster for this trip who was keen to bag his first munro after he turned back on Bidean nam Bian two days ago.

The Skyline silouette of the
Aonach Eagach ridge seen from
the north in Gleanna' Choalais

We approached the summit from the north starting at Loch Leven walking at Gleann a' Chaoiais. We walked up the south side of the burn - our first mistake - very heathery and boggy that side. We were led up that side by an apparently obvious path starting from the road. Take note - there's a more 'permanent' though still wet path on the north side of the glen.

Garbh Bheinn seen from the south

Meall na Gualainn seen from the bealach between the Aonach Eagach ridge and Garbh Bheinn

The Blackwater reservior and it's surrounding empty wilderness

We crossed the stream further up the glen just before it narrowed into a gorge and then proceeded to the bealach between the munro and the Corbett - Garbh Bheinn. The saturated snow had now turned to concrete and the final steepening of the slope to the munro demanded that we wear crampons - the first proper time this trip.

Stob Coire Leith - a subsidiary top of the Aonach Eagach Ridge

Loch Eilde Mor and the Eastern Mamore summits

The view of Glen Coe with the Ballchulish munros seen in the distance

We reached the top to be greeted by fanatic views in all directions. The views on the way up of Blackwater and the Mamores was good enough but this was ace. I took a photo of Alaster and me before pondering around taking more photos. We then made our way back to the bealach. I tried to convince Alaster that we should climb the Corbett but he was having none of that. In his words "It's not a munro!" dear me, we've arrived at this col at lunch time and he can't be bothered to do an extra 300m ascent to climb another summit! Appalling.

Garbh Bheinn in the Foreground with the Glen Nevis summits in the background

The long drop into Glen Coe with Loch Achtriochtan at the bottom

The view south east to the Buchailles

Alaster and Me on the summit of Meall Dearg

Am Bodach and the notorious chancellor

Sillouette shot of Alaster

We arrived at the road at 2pm and caught the bus to Glen Coe - right on time! Overall an excellent day. Tomorrow I went home back to Manchester - a stormy day with a white knuckle ride on the coach back to Manchester as it drove at full speed across Shap summit with the winds gusting very strong!

Stob Ban

Waterfalls tumbling off Meall Garbh

The Pap of Glen Coe seen from Loch Leven

Na Gruagaichean - one of the mamore summits seen from Loch Leven

Garbh Bheinn seen from Loch Leven