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Last minute decision on Saturday night to head out on Sunday and do something.As i am working my way up the country i plumped for Ben Lui. It turned out i managed to pick the one day from the last fortnight that there were cloudy summits and not great visibility.
I arrived at the A85 parking space for 9am and was immediately followed in by a Mountain rescue landrover and 3 x minibuses.Luckily they were there on a training exercise,no emergency.I think my wife or mum must be phoning these guys and asking them to keep an eye on me,thats the last 2 hills had Mountain Rescue folks in close proximity.
Anyway,off i went over the Lochay (kept dry) and up through the forest.Now i was following the route from walkhighlands but when i got to the point where i had to head up the Fionn Choire i chose not to as i could only see one set of prints through the foot deep snow whereas the path up the Eas Daimh had a well defined path in the deep snow,i took the well defined path,a route i would regret when i hit the hillside on the other side of the forest.
- Just leaving the car,clouds right down on the hills.
- Deep snow up through the forest.
Out of the forest and on up the hillside.I had 2 sets of folks in front winding there way uphill,i met them about an hour later on their way down as they could not negotiate some of the large ice patches on the way up.(no crampons)
- Following the Eas Daimh brings you out to a very steep hillside.
After i met the second group i decided to traverse round the hill towards Fionn Choiren to meet the route detailed on this site,this was a good move.Not nearly as steep and easier going with little ice and the snow was not so deep and much firmer.
Marching up into the clag with little to see makes the climb feel like it goes on forever.I really had to push myself to continue,those little gremlins were telling me it was ok to give up and come back another day.
Anyway,i made it and with fleeting views at least i had something to photograph.
- Honestly there is an Adonis under those layers.(just a fat one)
- The Southeast Summit.
I headed down southwest through knee deep snow fields and did not get a single glimpse of Beinn a'Chleibh all day.
- The best view of Beinn a'Chleibh.
I had decided to save Beinn a 'Chleibh for another day as i did not think my calves could take another "burn" so just headed down from the bealach.Watching the mountain rescue folks "practising" on my way down.
- Mountain rescue training.Large group in the centre of the photograph.
Although knackered i had another great day,need to get off that number 13 completion now,don't want any bad luck.