Wow - what a day, as near to perfect as it gets. Apart from the end, but we shall come to that in due course.
The weather started cloudy with a light drizzle, but there was one small patch of blue sky that boded well.
I have been looking forward to Ben Cruachan since climbing Ben Lui, and staring at it all the way down, and it didn't disappoint. Arriving at the lay-by by the station at 9am I was surprised to be the only car.
The walk started through birch woods, water droplets sparkling off their branches, and soaking me, as I walked up to the deer fence. Approaching the Dam there was a mixture of sunlight, mist and light rain, the atmosphere was magical. Then up the ladder on the dam to a awesome view, and fresh snow.
- Amazing light through the mist
- Cruachan reservoir
Pressing on to the end of the loch I could see a nice big crampon friendly patch of snow toward the ridge, and the bluest sky you ever saw. Positively alpine.
- Look at that sky!
As always when I got there it was a lot steeper than it looked, enough to get the heart pumping. By the time I reached the scramble over snow covered rocks to the summit the weather was closing in, not unusual for me. But then as suddenly again it opened up, and there was the view, over ….. to loch awe, and as far as the sea. Layers of cloud seemed to chase each other, as you can see in the time lapse shot on the video.
Onto the summit which was stunning, views in all directions, and sharp shadow of me on the snow as the sun shone intensely.
- Quite a ridge
I met a nice chap from Dundee who had been coming up behind me. He wisely opted out of doing the ridge without crampons. He said there were three others, following, and that was it, the 5 of us had the Ben to ourselves on such a stunning day.
The first part of the snow covered ridge was pretty scary, after than it was easy going so you could just enjoy the views, a top then ……. It was just getting better and better.
- Looking back towards Loch Awe
- Loch Awe
The light show finished with a sun set just after the 2nd top of the day. I had no desire to head down.
- Sunset over the sea
That's where the fun started, with a long walk down to the loch, it was getting dark, and my knees decided that going down was not for them. So I was down to a snails pace, making maximum use of my walking poles, and feeling every step.
I was reassured that I had my light in my pack, but no need. Despite the pain I could enjoy an incredibly bright moon, that lit my way, and gave me a great moon shadow, something i don't think I have experienced before.
Exhausted I arrived back at the lay-by at 8pm, 11 hours after starting. All these photo and video stops take their time, but I hope that are worth it. So Cruachan gets 5 stars from me.
Ben Cruachan is one of my favourites, I would love to have done it in conditions like that 
