Woo Hoo, I finally got a view!!
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 10:52 pmWith today being my last day in my 30's, I was hoping rather than expecting that I'd finally get a break with the weather and get up to the fabulous Glencoe, with the wee Bookil my preferred target. My last 6 or 7 walks I have seen hee haw from the summits (usually clearing 5-10 mins after i descend - You know that feeling!). MWIS wasn't filling me with great optimism last night, stating low cloud gradually rising through the day, with a 20% chance of a cloudfree Munro in the West, but it was better than the 10% chance in the East. So for today, West was best and I'd decide where when I got up. Our house looks towards the Luss Grahams, and it was distinctly gloomy that way when daylight arrived, but being the optimist I am, I packed the Glencoe map anyway and if the gloom persisted I'd just head for the Corbett Beinn a'Chrulaiste. The drive up didn't fill me with much optimism either with all the high tops in clag, and even as I approched Buachaille Etive Mor the clag was down to around 600m, but it was dry, so that was an improvement on last week on Stob Diamh!
Pulled into the carpark across from the large domed cairn, and low and behold, a miracle..... The clag was above the summits of my chosen hills
Even the Arrrrgghhhh Eeeeek Ridge was clear of the clag!!
Followed the obvious path from the carpark for around 1km, where it forked to the left, and followed this as it gradually rises away from the Allt Lairig Eilde and heads for the col between Stob Coire Raineach. As I gain height I can't help but keep looking back towards the Aonagh Eagach and all it's jaggy pointy bits, wondering if I will be ready for it when summer
2012 comes along, or if I'll just end up stuck and crying for my mammy 
Even from this distance, it looks rather daunting!!
Height was gained fairly quickly, mainly due to the high start point and just a little over an hour from leaving the car I was at the cairn on the col, and greeted with a fabulous view of the full length of Buachaille Etive Mor, which by now was almost clag free too! Unfortunately my camera skills aint upto yet, so no fabby pano shot of the full ridge 
From here it's a choice of left to Stob Coire Raineach or right to Stob Dubh. As SCR was nearest, I opted for that first, and within around 20 minutes or so, I was standing on the summit taking in my first summit view in bloody ages!!! 
If the last few walks had me questioning why the hell I do this for a hobby, then this was the moment that gave me the answer!!! To the North it was still positively gloomy, not even a glimpse of the Ben, even just across Beinn Fhada, Bidean was shy, but these grand herdsmen of Etive were showing themselves and that was as good a 40th birthday present as anything (though I may change my mind in the tomorrow if I get some nice new kit
). So a few minutes were spent snapping away at the summit, though with the excitement of actually having something to photograph, I forgot the obligatory self portrait Then it was time to traverse the ridge to Stob Dubh, which looked a rather fine walk from where I was standing
A quick descent to the col again and then up to the unnamed 902m cairn where the ridge flattens out and becomes quite narrow, before rising again to the summit of Stob Dubh. The wind was fairly strong along here, but nothing to worry about.
There are two cairns on the summit, the first of which is higher, and from here Bidean revealed as much of herself as she was going to. The second cairn however offers a superb view down Loch Etive, and again a cracking view of Buachaille Etive Mor.
Made my way back to the first cairn, remembering to take that all important smug shot, you get a nice view of the narrower part of the ridge from here also. Then it was down to the col and back to the car via the ascent route. Stopped off at the Kingshoose for the obligatory Big Bookil shot, and got a nice welcome from the locals
A great half day in a stunning wee part of our planet, with much better than expected weather, and some time alone to reflect on the first 40 years of the life of little OLD me. I only wish I'd got into this fabulous pastime years ago!! Better late than never
Cheers,
Dave
Pulled into the carpark across from the large domed cairn, and low and behold, a miracle..... The clag was above the summits of my chosen hills
Even the Arrrrgghhhh Eeeeek Ridge was clear of the clag!!- Aonach Eagach
- Stob Dubh
Followed the obvious path from the carpark for around 1km, where it forked to the left, and followed this as it gradually rises away from the Allt Lairig Eilde and heads for the col between Stob Coire Raineach. As I gain height I can't help but keep looking back towards the Aonagh Eagach and all it's jaggy pointy bits, wondering if I will be ready for it when summer
2012 comes along, or if I'll just end up stuck and crying for my mammy Even from this distance, it looks rather daunting!!- Jaggy Ridge again
Height was gained fairly quickly, mainly due to the high start point
and just a little over an hour from leaving the car I was at the cairn on the col, and greeted with a fabulous view of the full length of Buachaille Etive Mor, which by now was almost clag free too! Unfortunately my camera skills aint upto yet, so no fabby pano shot of the full ridge - Stob Dearg
- Stob na Doire
- Stob Coire Altruim & Stob na Broige
If the last few walks had me questioning why the hell I do this for a hobby, then this was the moment that gave me the answer!!! To the North it was still positively gloomy, not even a glimpse of the Ben, even just across Beinn Fhada, Bidean was shy, but these grand herdsmen of Etive were showing themselves and that was as good a 40th birthday present as anything (though I may change my mind in the tomorrow if I get some nice new kit
). So a few minutes were spent snapping away at the summit, though with the excitement of actually having something to photograph, I forgot the obligatory self portrait Then it was time to traverse the ridge to Stob Dubh, which looked a rather fine walk from where I was standing - SCR summit cairn
- Stob Dearg & Stob na Doire
- Stob Dubh
- Loch Etive
- Back up Corbett in the clag
A quick descent to the col again and then up to the unnamed 902m cairn where the ridge flattens out and becomes quite narrow, before rising again to the summit of Stob Dubh. The wind was fairly strong along here, but nothing to worry about.
- Ridge to Stob Dubh summit
There are two cairns on the summit, the first of which is higher, and from here Bidean revealed as much of herself as she was going to. The second cairn however offers a superb view down Loch Etive, and again a cracking view of Buachaille Etive Mor.
- First cairn
- Bidean almost clearing
- 2nd cairn & Loch Etive
- Loch Etive
- Buachaille Etive Mor
Made my way back to the first cairn, remembering to take that all important smug shot, you get a nice view of the narrower part of the ridge from here also. Then it was down to the col and back to the car via the ascent route. Stopped off at the Kingshoose for the obligatory Big Bookil shot, and got a nice welcome from the locals
- Peekaboo!!
- Ridge
- Stunning!
- Oh Deer!
A great half day in a stunning wee part of our planet, with much better than expected weather, and some time alone to reflect on the first 40 years of the life of little OLD me. I only wish I'd got into this fabulous pastime years ago!! Better late than never
Cheers,
Dave
