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Spidean a Choire Leith

PostPosted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 9:14 pm
by litljortindan
Some time in February 2001 or 2002 on a perfectly still morning I am sweating my way up a snowy Liathach in what can only be described as balmy conditions. Lost the path a bit high up in the snow which led me into a quite precarious position whilst trying to recover. So there I am all tensed up because I realise I am in a sticky spot re. reversal and what do I do? Whip my camera out of course! What? I often think back to that moment and wonder why on earth I'd do such an illogical thing. No matter, I managed to clumsily slither back to safer ground and had an otherwise pleasant walk to Spidean. Apart from nervously traversing an obviously avalanche prone slope to "save time".
The summit was something else, the air crystal clear and such a strong contrast between the red and pink of morning, the blue of the sky and the white and blue of the snow. Skye and Ben Bhan were the clearest I have ever seen from such a distance.
I didn't have and don't have the skills or confidence to continue west from that point in the snow but it was still well worth the effort of climbing to that single point.

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Re: Spidean a Choire Leith

PostPosted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 10:33 pm
by AnnieMacD
Ooooh, fantastic pics! Were the first two taken when you were in peril? I can't imagine losing the path up there - how on earth did you get back on track? There's not much room for making errors :problem:

Re: Spidean a Choire Leith

PostPosted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 11:49 pm
by rockhopper
Great set of photos :clap: Was happy enough walking these hills in late summer (despite the clag) but not at all sure I'd be so happy in snow ! - cheers :)

Re: Spidean a Choire Leith

PostPosted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 7:56 pm
by litljortindan
AnnieMacD wrote:Ooooh, fantastic pics! Were the first two taken when you were in peril? I can't imagine losing the path up there - how on earth did you get back on track? There's not much room for making errors :problem:


The first one is from the shoogly stance. I think retreating downwards must have brought me back on track because I don't recall further difficulties getting onto the ridge but a lot of the path was under fresh snow so difficult to pick out. After that first shoogly stance photo I came to my senses.

Re: Spidean a Choire Leith

PostPosted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 8:00 pm
by litljortindan
rockhopper wrote:Great set of photos :clap: Was happy enough walking these hills in late summer (despite the clag) but not at all sure I'd be so happy in snow ! - cheers :)


Glad you like them. I think that was a fair bit of soft snow on the way up but quite crispy and solid on the ridge.