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Did this last year for the first time, now when I drive through Glen Coe it looks down seductively as I pass by to bag less interesting hills
Last time I tagged along with 3 experienced climbers, we took a dirt bypass path to the north near the pinnacles which turned out to be the trickiest part of the walk - this time I would be sticking to the ridge. And we descended from Sgorr nam Fiannaidh, it's steep scree initially so not the best route. I read someone recommend the best way down is actually to turn around and go back along the AE to Am Bodach then take the nice path down to the car. Sounds obvious & you get to do the ridge twice
Low cloud covered all the summits as I drove to Glen Coe, but who cares about clag when you're on the AE
. Fine steep path, scree and rock in places. Getting into the cloud now:
Hard work, but Am Bodach reached quickly - and above the clouds now. Cairns & the Ben:
The ridge descends so it's in cloud.
Bidean:
The Ben, Grey Corries etc.
Next, onto the ridge and the first tricky bit - descent from Am Bodach. Actually, none of the scrambling is really tricky: it's just exposed and it took a few minutes to adjust from being a 'walker' to a 'scrambler'. After that I automatically looked at the rock for crampon scratches, footholds & well-worn handholds. It's like going through peat hags, bit of a shock initially then you become a black belt bog hopper
Got my first brocken spectre:
Back to Am Bodach.
Pinnacles from Meall Dearg:
Chimney:
More scrambly bits:
Ballachulish from Sgorr nam Fiannaidh:
Then turned round and headed back to Stob Coire Leith. The ridge looks more imposing when you're looking towards Am Bodach, all the scrambling is reversed so it doesn't feel like retracing your steps and the bits that were too vertical to descend can now be tackled.
A better view ahead:
Saw some other walkers on the ridge now, one was getting close then disappeared so I thought they must have taken the dodgy bypass path. I waited on top of a pinnacle for them to reappear & asked how it was - "horrible...horrible". "Much easier staying on the top", I offered helpfully
.
Started to pass more people, up till then I'd had the playground to myself. One had brought his two kids, who were having a great time.
From Meall Dearg again, less clag this time:
Am Bodach ahead:
Chancellor, basically a walk down to it:
Towards Glencoe from the Chancellor
Obligatory Buachailles shot:
Then back down the path, steep with loose scree in places but much better than descending from Sgorr nam Fiannaidh. Best way to do the AE?
