Climbed on Tuesday 19 Feb 2008, a stunningly clear sunny day. I left the layby near the Cluanie Inn at 8.00 am and switched my brain off for the unrelenting climb up to the south ridge of A'Chralaig. I had brought crampons & axe so was a bit disappointed to find very little snow. The top of A'Chralaig yielded fantastic views in all directions - I got so engrossed in photography that I dropped a glove and just managed to grab it before the wind whipped it over the snowy east face.
The ridge to Mullach F-C is more scenic than I had imagined, and I did have to use the crampons briefly on leaving the summit of A'Chralaig where a very hard snowfield straddled the ridge and dropped steeply on both sides. I took a risk and left my sack at the col before the ridge up to Mullach F-C as it appeared to be snowless. However the pinnacles turned out to have patches of hard snow which obscured some of the path, so I was obliged to do some scrambling - including a few moves more exciting than I had expected from reading route descriptions. But with good holds and dry rock it was very enjoyable.
More photography on top of the Mullach, then back to the sack and a quick descent down Coire Odhar and back to the road at 3.00 pm. As always after a good day I was already thinking of alternative routes for another visit.
Warning
Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.