Creag Pitridh

[litljortindan]

This was supposed to be a relatively quick up and down walk to break in new boots and avoid wind forecast for the afternoon. And, "quick" aside, that was pretty much how it turned out. However, I had another reason for being here and that was, if possible, to walk along the crag tops overlooking Lochan na h-Earba. This would depend, though, on identifying a suitable route from the path up to reach the crag tops and, in turn, on whether the going looked gentle enough to make this an enjoyable detour.
The latter two concerns were somewhat trumped by the splodge of cloud attaching itself to the summit so the decision was kind of made for me. But maybe that would have been the case anyway (Haynes et al, 2007; New Scientist, 2008; Shultze-Kraft et al 2016).

My plan was to cut off the main path and ascend via the WH descent path for a couple of hundred metres, hoping to spot an easy traverse across to the crag tops. Before this, though, came one of the highlights of the day -the early morning reflections in the loch. I wasn't there to admire reflections though; I was there to climb a hill so it was onwards and upwards.

Before long I found my ascent path at about the 490m contour and just before the burn crossing. Easy to spot as it is marked by a small cairn.

Despite the dry weather the path was quiet squelchy and I looked forward to escaping it. The way to the crag tops did not look too alluring though until I'd got above the 650m contour and I could see that the ground was better (drier) looking. In fact it was quite an easy and straightforward ten minute stroll to get onto the slopes leading to the northwest facing crag tops.

Once at the first crag top I felt very glad of my decision to make the detour and of the cloud cap that had made the decision an easy one. The views along the length of Lochan na h-Earba were quite stunning even with cloud sitting on most of the surrounding hill tops.

I wasn't quite firing on all cylinders though as I'd been a bit under the weather the evening before so it was quite slow progress along the crag tops. That worked in my favour though as the summit did eventually clear, albeit after a half hour wait.

It was easy enough to get from the crag tops to the summit but this did necessitate visibility being reduced to about fifty metres with very occasional glimpses through the surrounding and passing cloud.

I was slightly disappointed to get to the summit with no views to be had, especially as it had looked a bit clearer earlier in the morning. But the brightness in the sky indicated that cloud was maybe going to clear a bit, at least that was what was suggested by the day's forecasts.

I sat and had a bite to eat and a drink of water, all the while scrutinising the blank wall of grey white around me for signs of change. But there was nothing.

After ten minutes though came the first clear indication that I might yet get to see something. However, this manifested in the form of cloud breaks revealing cloud tops. Not quite what I wanted but at least it broke the monotony and it was fascinating to see the cloud "bottom" dipping and racing into the glen to the east.

The forecasts had indicated summit wind chill around freezing and after sitting there for half an hour, with very occasional jumping up to chase a gap in the clouds with my camera, I was cooling down and adding layers to keep the heat in.

Thankfully after that half hour of waiting I was rewarded with big gaps opening in the cloud and views in all directions opening and closing before me. It was quite exhilarating to witness the cloud race past and break at summit height to reveal swathes of sun dappled land below and on all horizons.

Eventually those breaks in the cloud joined forces and the whole scene was revealed.

I didn't hang around to wait to be surrounded by perfectly clear hill tops because I was getting cold and I'd already experienced the high point of the day -not being at the summit or seeing the cloud cleared off but being in the midst of the battle between the cloud and the hill.

I opted for a longer descent, following the paths marked on the OS map, via the Ardverickie bealach. This wasn't so straightforward as might be imagined as the initial descent south west is quite steep. Also, the path leading to the bealach is a bit boggy. After that, though, it was plain sailing albeit I did still seem to be suffering some sort of reaction to feeling unwell the night before.

As for the new boots they were excellent and certainly made me realise how much I'd been having to compensate for the worn heels of their predecessors.


Setting off along the track the weather is fine but with cloud at all different levels.


Beinn a' Chlachair is fairly clear.


I reach the reservoir in good fettle considering I was feeling a bit ropey the night before.


Some nice refelctions in the reservoir.


And an enticing skyline ahead with Creag Pitridh summit just visible top right.


Who that?




Now might have been a good time t be up there, it seems. Still, this outlines my potential route up.




More fine reflections in Loch na h-Earba.








Well I could have stayed at the lochside for a long time but I needed to get on.


Back on track.


But I can't help galncing round. Creag a' Chuir is partiocularly eye-catching, along with its neighbour Creag a' Mhaigh.




Eventually I tear my eyeballs away from Lochan na h-Earba and its surroundings as I have gone round the bend and I am now on my way up to the path that will fork off to the left.




A cairn marks the path up to Creag Pitridh and it makes for rapid progress despite being a bnit boggy. However, the ground to cross to the crag tops doesn't look very inviting until anbout the 700m contour.


It's fairly easy to get to the crag tops and I am spellbound by the views.


The going is quite good and I get quite engrossed in the meander up and down and round all the crag tops with their grand views.


Still misty higher up so I am in no hurry.






Eventually I head up and away from the crags overlooking the lochs and into the cloud. At the summit there is nothing to see but the very occasional cloud top so I sit and wait.


After a while more breaks appear and it gets quite exhilarating watching the cloud fly past and occasionally open up like this.














Now clearing to the south.


And to the east.


Watching the cloud shadow blown along the slopes of Binnein Shuas.




View south west.


Sgot Iutharn or Geal Charn of Aonach Beag I guess.


One last look at teh lochs then I head back down, but this time via the Ardverikie bealach..


Can't tell from here but the initial descent is steeper than it looks.


Slightly boggy path down to the bealach but after that it is very easy going on the main path.



Once home I get a rest but later on I'm outside again to watch the sunset colours:












References

Haynes, J-D., Sakai, K,, Rees, G., Gilbert, S., Frith, C. and Passingham, R. E. (2007)
'Reading Hidden Intentions in the Human Brain', Current Biology, 17, pp 323-328, Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2006.11.072 (Accessed: 23 June 2024)

New Scientist, (2008) 'Machine detects our decisions before we know them', New Scientist, Available at:
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19826525-600-machine-detects-our-decisions-before-we-know-them/
(Accessed: 23 June 2024)

Shultze-Kraft, M., Birman, D., Rusconi, M., Allefeld, C., Gorgena, K., Dahne, S., Blankerza, B. and Haynes, J-D. (2016)
'The point of no return in vetoing self-initiated movements', Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(4), pp. 1080-1085c, Available at:
https://www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10.1073/pnas.1513569112 (Accessed: 23 June 2024)