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The forecast was a bit more seasonal than Monday's classic and the views weren't as outstanding higher up, but it made up for it in atmosphere on the summits, with deep, sculpted snow landscapes. Fierce winds on the top made for tricky photography with a higher than usual chance of losing my phone.
- Crossing the River Fillan after a fairly leisurely start, about 8am
- A crisp and cold start - the upper of the two cemetaries at Kirkton Farm.
- Spectacular view of the Ben Lui group, slightly higher up above the train track.
- Second outing for my new Yeti gaiters, so far proving admirable, though not as necessary as I thought they'd be on this notoriously boggy approach - which was frozen solid.
- I was taking it easy after the exertions of the day before on Meall Glas and took the time to read the sign in the plantation. I did let them know, a bit tentatively, if they knew about the sheep in the plantation. Pro-tip to avoid howls of laughter - they do know about the sheep! (there are quite a lot in there and visible from below, but thought I'd do my bit for the cause, just in case).
- I see now what they meant in the description about 'awkward stiles'.
- The ground was frozen from the valley floor and fresh snow cover from about 500m
- With solid snow covering from about 600m
- The ptarmigan don't seem to mind the cold snap
- The wind and wind chill got pretty harsh towards the south top, with the fence posts very welcome as the cloud drifted in an out.
- The cleft on the south top with corniced ridges either side - out of the brunt of the wind, it made a good lunch stop on the way back.
- It was blowing a hoolie on the summit - I hadn't quite realised how the outfit made me look half way between storm trooper and bank robber, but now understand some of the strange looks I'd been getting from the 3-4 other parties out today.
- The atmospheric ridge between the two summits, on the way back.
- Any idea where the prevailing winds are from around here?
- With quite a dramatic reveal as I dropped out of the cloud, but the wind still biting
- I kept the crampons on all the way down to about 4-500m to deal with crossing back over the frozen burns, as I was pretty sure I was the last person down (hobbling due to the round of Meall Glas the day before) and didn't want to risk a fall.
- Stunning contrast with conditions on the summit.
All in all a bit of a more serious and less picturesque day than Monday but still a fine winter's day out in the Crianlarch hills.
