Eididh nan Clach Geala

[litljortindan]

Noticed the weather looked promising for the morning but that the wind would pick up through the day so I thought about a walk with an easy up and down route and Eididh nan Clach Geala came to mind from recent plans.
I was ready to start walking at 6.15am which was a little bit later than I would have liked but it did hold the advantage of being able to see where I was going.
It was an easy beginning of a 3km walk through the woods with occasional glimpses of the tumbling River Lael. Leaving the woods coincided with a pre-dawn colouring of the sky but it was only Meall nan Ceapraichean and Beinn Dearg that were visible on the skyline ahead; Eididh nan Clach Geala remained obscured until about the three quarters way mark, beyond the path junction.
That next 3km beyond the woods was easy and pleasant with cascades and waterfalls dotted along the way and the north west ridge of Beinn Dearg walling in the route. Ahead, there was an ever nearing headwall of the snow covered Meall nan Ceapraichean and Beinn Dearg that came and went into view as the path made its way up the glen. In the opposite direction there were glimpses of An Teallach.
Not sure how I manged it but I missed the path fork and realised my error on reaching the first main ford. I briefly considered switching to Meall nan Ceapraichean but I definitely wanted to remain dry shod for the ascent so I stuck to plan A and diverted north, following the burn initially but then cutting more directly north to intercept the Eididh nan Clach Geala path. Rectifying my error was relatively painless and the path soon came into view. Then it was only another 1km before I headed directly up hill from the path high point.
It had been quite an easy walk up to this point but the ensuing ascent on soft, ankle deep snow soon made things less easy. I was ok though, still employing my shortened stride length approach to favour keeping going over stop-start. That said, there was still plenty of stopping -not so much to catch breath though, more just to admire the surroundings.
I had a rest just below the summit to take some time to appreciate the views arcing round from Beinn Dearg to the Fainnichs, Torridon and Fisherfield and then slowly made my way over the remaining ground with spin drift, plummeting temperature and a rising wind all greeting me. I'm probably over-dramatising but I could certainly feel the difference and didn't spend too long visiting the summit cairn and surroundings and then the neighbouring cairn a little way to the north. Views of Creag an Duine and (I think) Klibreck did catch the eye though.
I was probably on the summit area for about five or ten minutes in total -it was just too cold for me really but as soon as I descended ten metres it felt like a pleasant Spring day again and the soft snow that had been hard work on the way up was now working in my favour with sufficient volume to brake any slips. Then I could really fully appreciate the views with the Fainnichs, Torridon and Fisherfield all showing up well with their toppings of snow.
Thereafter it was a pleasant if uneventful descent. I felt a bit tired at the end but there were no aches and pains so quite pleased about that.


The first 3km through the woods is not unpleasant.


Glimpses ahead of Meall nan Ceapraichean. More snow than I had anticipated.


And there is Beinn Dearg too. looking from the gate at the end of the woods.


View in the other direction a few minutes after exiting the woods.


For a while views west to An Teallach become obscured by the great wall that is Beinn Dearg's north west ridge, albeit this photo is taken looking south east..


This one is looking south west with a glimpse of Loch Broom.


Nice cloudscape forming above.


The route is also dotted with River Lael cascades and waterfalls.


Some ice on the path but all easily avoided. Impressive skyline.


Don't know how I managed this but I missed the path fork so ended up going cross country fro a short way.


Sunshine beaming out of the gap between Meall nan Ceapraichean and Beinn Dearg.




Back on track and An Teallach has come into view again.


View ahead at this point still dominated by Meall nan Ceapraichean.


Underfoot a mix of snow, ice and earth.




At last, a glimpse of Eididh nan Clach Geala.


Leaving the Beinn Deqarg sphere of influence.


Fisherfield Deargs come into view as I make my way up towards Eiddh nan Clach Geala.




Aiming for the slope on the left somewhere.


Looking back at the great wall of Beinn Dearg (north west ridge).


An Teallach detail. The day is starting to reveal itself, like a painting that develops and only finds its final form towards the end.


At the high point of the path I cut off north directly up Edidh nan Clach Geala's southern slopes. The walk so far has been easy but now the ankle deep soft snow slows down my progress but still I stick with my new approach of shorter strides to favour keeping going over stop-start.


Progress may have slowed but the weather is fantastic so I don't mind toiling a bit on my way up the last 230m or so of ascent.
.
Torridon hills visible now.




And there is Sgurr Mor I think.


Every step sinks into the snow but I am getting there.


Quite happy with my progress despite the slowness.






If every photo is a self-portrait then I don't know what this blank empty canvas says about me. No matter, soon to be adorned with my fancy footwork/stumbles along the weakest line of resistance.


Fainnichs.


Torridon.


Beinn Dearg north west ridge.


Fisherfield Deargs and An Teallach again.


And now a view to the north west too.


Detail of view south of Meall nan Ceapraichean with Beinn Dearg behind.


Sgurr nan Clach Geala I think.




Having a rest near the summit.


On the move again. There's a bit of spin drift, a rising wind and a definite drop in temperature.


Noticeably cold at the summit cairn. I have a quick wander round the summit area and then over to the other cairn to the north but it is really too cold for me and I soon retreat. Ten metres below the summit it feels like a pleasant Spring day.


Good view north but it is very cold.


Creag an Duine catches the eye with Klibreck beyond.


Very quick detour in the Beinn Dearg direction.






And then over to the other cairn.




And then I'm on my way down. Doesn't take long for things to warm up a bit again though.


And now the soft snow that had been hard work on the way up makes for a quick and easy descent.
















Back into the woods.

Overall a really enjoyable walk and views that exceeded expectations by some distance.

[Gordie12]

That looked like a really good day.

I was halfway through reading your report before I realised I'd actually climbed this hill myself - it took me till the first waterfall photo before it got a bit familiar I was planning to click on the hill title to see where it was as I thought I had never heard of it. Age is a bugger right enough

[Mountainlove]

Ohhh what a wonderful day you had. Love seeing pictures of the snow covered hills up north. Glad I am not the only one who manages to miss paths

[litljortindan]

That looked like a really good day.

I was halfway through reading your report before I realised I'd actually climbed this hill myself - it took me till the first waterfall photo before it got a bit familiar I was planning to click on the hill title to see where it was as I thought I had never heard of it. Age is a bugger right enough

Maybe because I climbed this hill on its own? I guess most folk at least include its neighbour so more recognisable as one of a pair of Munros or one of four of the WH route. It was indeed a good day.

[litljortindan]

Ohhh what a wonderful day you had. Love seeing pictures of the snow covered hills up north. Glad I am not the only one who manages to miss paths

Yes, I probably need to leave a trail of crumbs or something. My excuse is that I was probably admiring the waterfalls in the other direction too much.
Definitely good to catch a bit of snow before it all disappears.

[HalfManHalfTitanium]

Stunning photos of some of Scotland's finest mountains. A great read too! - I especially liked "The day is starting to reveal itself, like a painting that develops and only finds its final form towards the end."

I've often vaguely thought that about a hill day, especially in winter - but you express it very well indeed.

thanks for posting

tim

[The English Alpinist]

I was on the Fannichs that very day. We could have waved to each other (maybe being able to make out a microscopic dot in the snowscape!). the day did indeed start to reveal itself. Good visibility, thankfully, but the wind did get up very strongly. On my last ridge I was standing sideways. Also, the day before I was walking up the Leal valley (on my way to Beinn Bhreac the Fiona), and also got rather confused by the junctions around there!

[litljortindan]

Stunning photos of some of Scotland's finest mountains. A great read too! - I especially liked "The day is starting to reveal itself, like a painting that develops and only finds its final form towards the end."

I've often vaguely thought that about a hill day, especially in winter - but you express it very well indeed.

thanks for posting

tim

Thanks Tim! I was pleasantly surprised by the views but I guess the snow makes a difference too.

[litljortindan]

I was on the Fannichs that very day. We could have waved to each other (maybe being able to make out a microscopic dot in the snowscape!). the day did indeed start to reveal itself. Good visibility, thankfully, but the wind did get up very strongly. On my last ridge I was standing sideways. Also, the day before I was walking up the Leal valley (on my way to Beinn Bhreac the Fiona), and also got rather confused by the junctions around there!

Well I send you a theoretically time travelling wave back to Monday. I caught enough of the wind to put me off extending the walk but still a really enjoyable trip. I can imagine it would have been a good day for the Fainnichs too.