free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
After a sabbatical of 4 1/2 months due to work commitments and pure laziness, I decided that I needed to get back out on the hills.
Having checked the Walkhighlands web-site, I saw an invite to do the "Creag Meagaidh circuit" with Dawn Foth & Andy Luke, so arranged to pick Dawn up early doors and head North to meet up with Andy.
Parked up at the car-park at Aberarder on Loch Laggan side, got booted & suited and headed off.
- Sron Garbh Choire from Aberarder car-park
Headed along the well kept path way to Lochan a Choire , but because we were "deeply engrossed in conversation"

, we missed the cairn to branch off up over Na Cnapanan, so we had to opt for the direct route up towards Carn Laith.
- Dawn & Andy en-route to Carn Laith
- The Window from slopes of Carn Laith
Did I mention at the start that I hadn't been out for a few months so by the time I reached the cairn at Carn Laith and my first Munro of the day and 2013 I may add, , I had "sooked" in enough O2 to fill a zeppelin

. so, after a wee pit stop, we headed off along the ridge walk to Stob Poite a' Choir Ardair.
- Dawn with Sron a' Ghoire, Coire Ardair & Lochan a' Choire in background
The weather conditions were great, so once we found a safe area, we took time out to practise our "ice-axe arresting" techniques.
Andy gave us a few handy hints

and to start off with, I felt a complete tube

but once I got the hang of it, I was happy that we took the chance to give it a try.
Plodded off again towards Munro No.2 of the day and by now after trudging through the snow, I was leg weary

so by the time we reached Stob Poite a' Coire Adrair, my thighs were burning that fierce, you could have cooked a steak on them

so I decided that I was going to bale out "The Window" and take the path back from Lochan a' Choire, leaving Andy & Dawn to finish off the circuit at Creag Meagaidh and meet up again back at the car-park.
It was a great yomp back down to Lochan a' Choire side from the "Window", but spookily quiet as I was out of the wind.....I could hear my thighs sizzling...

- Coire Ardair
- The Window from Lochan a' Choire
Good walk back, but was glad to see the car-park, where I had the pleasure of joining some fellow walkers in a light refreshment in their camper van before they headed into the sun-set.
Cracking day out...thoroughly enjoyed the walk and the company, so, till next time...
Sparky...