free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
I often looked at the mighty hulk of Liathach and assumed it was beyond my capability to ever climb it. But reading reports on this site began to make me wonder and in 2017 I managed an ascent of Mullach an Rathain from the back. That left the eastern peak, Spidean a' Choire Leith, to be done some other time (or not!). Time went on and every so often the niggling question returned until I realised at my age it had better be soon - or not at all.
Here's the photographic evidence of the tantalising foreplay to the main event. Though the truth is I'd been overawed by this mountain long before I ever captured its formidable face on camera.
Liathach from the road (May 2012)
From ascent of Beinn Eighe (May 2012)
Spidean a' Choire Leith from north side (May 2012)
From Loch Clair (March 2016)
Spidean a Choire Liath on right from Mullach an Rathain (July 2017)
Pinnacles closer up
The chosen day was 1st July 2021. My support group were Ian who'd done the full traverse before, Feng who was in the Mullach group in 2017, son David who was in the Mullach group and grandson Finlay, who'd previously done 5 Munros and a few Corbetts.
We got parked in the usual space at the side of the road and off we went, crossing the Allt an Doire Ghairbh and up the path on the far side. Ian and Feng were quickly in the lead and I said to them to go at their comfortable speed and we'd regroup later. I knew I wouldn't keep up with them and in fact their "comfortable speed" meant we didn't meet up again until half way along the ridge! Fast I may not be but I was absolutely buzzing to be doing this climb. Looking back we could see the car gradually shrinking below us. It's not often you can see your vehicle for most of the day.
Glen Torridon (July 2021)
Following the course of the Allt an Doire Ghairbh
Well made path with solid steps in place, steep but nothing difficult
Waterslide
I'm grateful to David who took it upon himself to keep an eye on his old mum on this climb. He'd adopted a similar role on the Forcan ridge in 2012, telling me what to do on the trickier bits, which worked out well and gave me confidence for whatever lay ahead this time.
My minder for the day
Last tree on the way up
Following grandson Finlay into coire of Toll a' Meitheach
Way ahead looks blocked but path swings to the right
The path led up a couple of rocky hands-on-bits but nothing difficult. The views of the upper part of the mountain were magnificent. Only one person overtook us on the way up, which was surprising on a picture perfect Saturday on Liathach. When he passed me I felt I was going about snail's pace but he said to David (who was ahead) his mum was doing great. Comments like that can be surprisingly encouraging when we feel we're making a pig's breakfast of something.
Steep terraced side of Spidean a Choire Leith
All of a sudden the path topped out on the ridge and we had our first view of the wild lands to the north. I always love seeing over to the other side.
First view north
What was different about this mountain to others, like next door Beinn Eighe, was that often on reaching the ridge after a steep climb there's a sense of being able to relax as walking becomes easier. But not on Liathach. There's no relaxed leg swinging ambling along this ridge!
The exposure is immense and if anything concentration goes up a notch as it's no place to slip or lose ones footing. Even though I'd read about the route I'd not taken in quite how exposed and rough it is. As WH puts it there is mild rock scrambling en route to the ridge and awkward bouldery terrain along it.
Finlay clapping his dad and granny on reaching this high point on ridge
Somewhere about here another walker joined us and we got talking. He said if it wasn't inappropriate could he ask how old I was. I've never seen the point of being secretive about age, it just being an objective fact and neither to our credit or discredit. So I told him and he said he always found it humbling to meet people who were that old in places like this! Not quite sure how to take that. We got talking some more and it turned out he works as a psychiatrist in a hospital (in England, but I'll not say in which city) and said he spends his days with very crazy people. When Feng heard what he'd said his immediate response was "No different today then".
Spidean a Choire Liath summit is three tops along
Exposed path
View east to Beinn Eighe
View back to eastern top Stuc a' Choire Dhuibh Bhig
The full group reunited
Feng and Ian met us on their way back from the Spidean summit and on their way to the eastern top Stuc a' Coire Dhubh Bhig to get the best view of Beinn Eighe across the trench of Coire Dubh. While they were doing that we continued in the direction of the highest point of the ridge, Spidean a' Choire Leith. Finlay was in the lead which wasn't intentional but simply because he's fast. A bit further along we stopped where there was a rare grassy patch to relax and have a bite to eat and it became clear Finlay wasn't his usual happy self. He didn't say what was wrong but I think the exposure had got to him. Being the slow one I decided to push on and leave the other two to come on when they were ready, once David had done a bit of motivational dad chat.
So off I went taking care to put my feet in the right places amongst the quartzite boulders.
Second top of Stob a' Coire Liath Mhor
Once on the second top I looked back for David and Finlay. There was no sign of them but another walker was approaching so I waited and asked if she'd seen a young lad with his dad. Yes, she'd seen them and they weren't for coming any further and would wait for me at the spot where I'd left them. David told me later that Finlay had said his head wasn't in the right place for going further. Physically he could have done it but I think the exposure was too much and it was perceptive of him to realise he needed to stop.
This put me in the tricky position of not wanting to keep them waiting longer than necessary, but also knowing I had to be careful. There was a path all the way but it was awkward with angular shaped boulders and not a place to stumble or twist an ankle. The upshot was I didn't take all the photos I should have taken, including one of the famous Am Fasarinen pinnacles, which I have to admit I was relieved I wasn't about to traverse.
The final ascent to SCL summit
Mullach an Rathain and pinnacles (Ian's photo)
The wild lands to the north
East to Beinn Eighe which I walked with Kath in 2012
It was good to get back to the other two who were patiently waiting and David took a selfie to mark the occasion. As far as I was concerned the lad had done well conquering this mountain, which all my life had looked unassailable! He's got the rest of his life to come back and do the full ridge, which I've a feeling one day he will.
Three generations on Liathach
Snaking ridge
Not a place for a slip
If anything the path down from the ridge was more difficult on the descent. Loose stones and gravel are one thing going up but can be lethal going down and a couple of times I took to a spot of bum-shuffling which gives the jelly-legs a short break, but wins no points for style. Despite these difficulties Finlay skipped down like a mountain goat and David had the challenge of keeping one eye on his son who was ahead and his other eye on his mother who was behind. But we all got down unscathed and it was good to meet up with Ian and Feng again back at the car.
That tree again
On the drive home I had to pinch myself that it had happened. It was a fabulous day. The weather and conditions couldn't have been better and I'm grateful to the others for coming and especially to David for giving me the confidence I needed. It was for me more challenging than An Teallach (though to be fair I was younger then) and I can understand why so many call Liathach their favourite mountain. It's a privilege to have been there. It was a dream come true.