Snowy day on Cruachan
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 10:08 pm
First (and hopefully of many) walk reports!
Finally picked Ben Cruachan as the hill to do yesterday morning after debating for the last week over which one to do.
So this morning hauled myself out of bed at crazy-o-clock to maximize what little daylight is around and was at the station below Cruachan by 8:30. Headed up through the foggy little wood and eventually came out of the mist to the first view of the day over Loch Awe.
Continued up the path and as we advanced further up it got substantially boggier so we were glad to get onto tarmac again. Headed towards the dam until we were right underneath it, then headed up the zig-zag path, up the steps and on to the dam itself.
Headed to the left of the dam, then joined the track round the side of the reservoir and after a couple of kilometres and a quick look at the tunnel exits joined the path up towards Coire Dearg. After celebrating the first snow I've seen this year in the form of a snowball aimed at dad, we began the long slog up to the bealach.
Another slog up the ridge and we finally reached the top
Once we headed off the peak only then we saw how pointed it is!
Once we reached Drochaid Ghlas it was a quick dash to the top then back down into the bealach - funny to think there was a tunnel half a kilometre below us!
After that it was a gentle stroll to the top of Stob Diamh compared to what we had just done!
Tried to stick with the path but it was hard as it was buried under the snow so ended up heading right down the right hand side of the ridge .
Eventually our makeshift path joined the main one and turn into a bog . We were very glad to get to the tunnel entrance and the access road to it. Stopped to put the snow poles away and shed some layers at the dam, then it was back down the way we came.