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Friday night, bad forecast (wet and windy), but the clouds are high so text my walking buddy Duncan and we’re set for Saturday to take on the formidable Bidean. A first for both of us.
Car park is quiet on Saturday, off we go a quick jaunt down across the river then look up and it’s the first “we can’t climb up there”!! A seemingly impossible gnarly stream to walk up. But of course we can, and it gains us quick height on a good path, with great views back of the Aonach ridge and Glencoe.
Eventually get up under a huge dome of rock and choose the right hand path over a stream (it’s apparently more scenic). Well it is, it takes us up under Stob Coire nan Lochan, a big broody wall of rock, and round onto its west ridge. The sheer size of the hills is impressive, the ridge is Batman- style with all the sharp bits of rock sticking up, but is easier to walk than it looks, although the rocks are slippery underfoot. The summit arrives eventually, with great views. It’s elegant enough to seem like a Munro.
Then it’s on to the connecting ridge ver to Bidean itself, tougher to negotiate than it looks but no real exposure.
The haul up to the summit comes quickly, and finally we’re there! Big bad Bidean. Superlative views of a sea of peaks, it’s stunning. But as well as the constant 200mph hurricane, the rain now has a go. So onwards to the second summit along a great ridge, but it’s hard to make progress as the rocks are slippery and we take some tumbles. We finally reach it, lovely view further along the ridge which is tempting.
Back down to the bealach, and the top of the crazy red mud chute. It’s almost vertical and takes some effort not to slip, but plenty of handholds save the day. Then it’s a long march down into the Lost Valley, which is just an amazing place - a first for me. Suddenly, the rain stops and we see tourists!
Back through the boulders and soon back to the car park, with a final look back to where we’ve been. They still look impossible, and so forbidding. An excellent day. Cheated the worst of the weather.
