Aonach Eagach backwards

[JohnJoe]

This summer I'm hoping to achieve what I've already failed to do twice - the Aonach Eagach ridge.

All the route descriptions I've read go from East to West, finishing at the Clachaig Inn, but we will be doing it the other way round. Would this present any difficulties - is it harder going from West to East? Or is E-W more popular just because you end up in the pub at the end?

Thanks!

[Kevin29035]

Done it both ways a couple times and I think I prefer west to east. More up climbing that way, rather than walking up a slope and down climbing the far end (as with E-W).

Only real difference is that you are climbing down onto the pinnacles, which does feel a lot different in that direction and perhaps harder as you're down climbing the hardest move on the ridge.

[dav2930]

Good question. The two occasions I did AE were in winter and from E to W, so perhaps I'm not best qualified to comment on this, but I don't see any particular reason why a W to E traverse would be any more difficult than E to W. I seem to remember a tricky move going up one of the pinnacles, which might be even trickier coming down, but this 'trickyness' did involve crampon tips and ice-axe placements on verglassed rock, which hopefully won't apply to you in summer! Indeed a W to E traverse would have the advantage of tackling the Am Bodach scramble upwards, which would make it easier. The only logistical advantage of an E to W traverse is that your starting point is higher so you've less ascent to get to the ridge, but that's a negligible consideration. Either way, it's worth saving AE for a day of good weather!! Hope it'll be third time lucky for you.

[Border Reiver]

Apart from the extra few hundred feet of height gain, your biggest problem is that you'll be meeting all the other walkers coming towards you, instead of going with the flow of traffic. You might have to squeeze past in some awkward places.

[magicdin]

Apart from the extra few hundred feet of height gain, your biggest problem is that you'll be meeting all the other walkers coming towards you, instead of going with the flow of traffic. You might have to squeeze past in some awkward places.

Found that when I went West to East - a lot of waiting for the groups to pass
Maybe going the wrong way round Ikea might give you an insight

[gammy leg walker]

http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=54355#p287580.

When I first read this headline I thought you were going to walk backwards

[jupe1407]

From my admittedly vague memory of the AE:

Pros
- Not having a brutally steep initial ascent on Am Bodach
- Ascending Am Bodach from the ridge will be much better than down-scrambling it from it's summit

Cons
- Coming up the path to Sgor nam Fiannaidh will be longer and the last couple of hundred metres is annoying scree-type stuff
- The are a couple of pinnacles I can recall that will be trickier in descent then ascending E-W, plus you'll be downclimbing the wee chimney.

[JohnJoe]

Thanks for the replies - really helpful.

I don't have any choice about the date so fingers crossed for the weather!

[Wanderlust7]

I done this east to west two weeks ago and found the same issue and could not understand why everyone goes en masse westerly, however, the one thing I would say is save it for a really good day which would make an otherwise good day a great and memorable one.

The 360 views were great when I traversed the ridge, which I found much wider than expected and a bit easier too if I am honest. No mistaking there is exposure and it can take your breath away but only really in 2 brief sections. There is actually hardly any scrambling at all and I anticpated more. Stick to the rock at all times and avoid any bypass sections, you will see all the crampon marks when you sometimes loose the way and they will see you right.

I wanted to cycle back and it is downhill westbound, but it took me a quick blast of 30 of minutes and was fine. Also thought Am Bodach was a steady accent and did not stop until the minor top, if I done it again, I would still go east to west and would not want to down climb the Crazy Pinnacles. As someone said above the walk down the far end is pump and I for one would not want that crappy path. No one passed us on our trip at all and it was not until lunching on the second summit that we met a guy well into 60's maybe 75 tops going east and coming back, something he had done many times before.

Hope you have a good one, whichever route you take.

[Soldier of fortune]

The views on a good day make the traverse from east to west the most rewarding, on a wild day though west to east is better. Both ways its a good day out have a good day.

[Caberfeidh]

When I first read this headline I thought you were going to walk backwards

Aaaarrrr, I was goin' to say; it's dangerous enough up there, walking backwards is absolutely suicidal !

[electricfly]

When I first read this headline I thought you were going to walk backwards

Aaaarrrr, I was goin' to say; it's dangerous enough up there, walking backwards is absolutely suicidal !

Indeed!..

...Then I thought, the answer is Hcagae Hcanoa, surely?

[gammy leg walker]

Indeed!..

...Then I thought, the answer is Hcagae Hcanoa, surely?

[/quote]


Dah ot daer siht erom naht ecno ot dnatsrednu.....

[malky_c]

No-one mentioned doing it both ways yet? This usually comes up at some point, and deals with the transport issues. Never done it myself - always gone east to west for reasons that I can't remember. Next plan is to do a circuit from Loch Leven incorporating Garbh Bheinn and the Pap.

[dav2930]

No-one mentioned doing it both ways yet? This usually comes up at some point, and deals with the transport issues. Never done it myself - always gone east to west for reasons that I can't remember. Next plan is to do a circuit from Loch Leven incorporating Garbh Bheinn and the Pap.

Sounds a good plan. I've often wondered about doing the whole ridge from the Devil's Staircase, starting from Kinlochleven. If I ever do AE in summer, that's how I'd like to do it.