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I'd intended to climb Spidean Mialach in April but was put off by the snow and headed for a third time ascent of Gleouraich instead which turned out to be an excellent walk and a good test for a recovering injury.
This time round the morning started with plenty of sunshine and just a few midges. I wasn't too sure about where to start from so made a best guess and soon intercepted the proper path.
The walking was then straightforward until looking for the crossing point of the Allt a' Mheil. I continued too far north and only realised my error, if error it was, when I saw a figure heading up a bit to the south. The map, and my inked-on route, told me that I should follow that figure's lead. Fortunately it was easy ground to cross and I was soon onto a reassuringly clear path that continued all the way to the summit.
About two thirds of the way up it became clear that the cloud capping the hills to the west was rolling in eastwards. I attributed this to my earlier liberal application of sunscreen because of the forecast high UV levels.
So I tried to keep my pace up to get some sort of view from the top. This I managed but only really with clear views east. Nevertheless it was entertaining to watch the cloud dance its way up and down the slopes around, if never clearing enough for views to the west.
The forecast had been for light winds at 900m but there was a bit more of a cold breeze there so I wasn't able to sit out the cloud for too long before having to decide whether to continue with the horeshoe or to descend. I didn't really want to walk in the cloud so I opted to descend. Needless to say, it did clear a bit as I descended but I was still happy enough with my short walk.
I managed to take a wrong turn again at the Allt a' Mheil, this time ending up headed towards the sluice and track beyond but this was ok as a descent route, if a little bit testing on the knees at the end.
An easy walk, remarkable I think for the fact that you almost follow a straight line from start to summit.
Promising start to the day.
Cloud safely parked off to the west, or so I thought.
Good track then path for the first half of the ascent but lost it a bit crossing the Allt a Mheil.
Route more or less a straight line; there's a path continuation just left of the crag on the right and that goes all the way to the summit which is the high point in the distance.
Gleouaich direction.
A bit of a view west from about two thirds of the way up but those cloud caps are headed my way.
Zoom west -cloud rolling in.
A few deer just to the east.
Gairich.
About the last clearish view west I got.
Deer on the summit ridge.
Deer ear on the summit ridge.
Sun screen.
A bit of loch, a bit of ridge, a bit of sun and some cloud.
A view of sorts.
View east from near the summit is much clearer.
North.
Sat at the cairn for half an hour hoping for the ridge to clear.
Could just make out the deer on the ridge I'd seen earlier watching as the guy who'd passed me earlier walked past.
A break to the west? Not to be.
Started descending and. of course, the cloud started to lift and break a bit.
Could have gone along there after all.
Pretty much a straight line back to the car but I still managed to head off the wrong way.
On the wrong path.
Headed for the sluice and track beyond -not a bad alternative.
A colourful walk back along the road.
