free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
I took a notion to do the black mount the traditional way whilst I passed doing the west Highland way. I fancied some company for it though, so I put a note up on the meet up board.
I've done this a few times and have met some really lovely people off the forum, so I had high hopes.
I haven't been axe murdered.................yet!
This time was no different. I'd be having the lovely company of Laura, James, Dave and Jake the dog.
We met at 7.30 at Victoria bridge. I wanted to start from the ski centre end, as I figured it would be easier to navigate from, if the clag came down. So James kindly gave us all a lift round. The skyline race was on but still easy to park, loads of spaces in the car park.
The route up was easy, past the ski runs, looking very sad out of season.
- Ski runs looking a bit sad
You gain height very quickly and an hour and a half later we where on the top of Meall a'Bhuridh, pondering how they got a little orange excavator up near the top.
Quick stop then on to the lovely ridge towards Creise.
- The ridge along to creise
- Looking back to Meall a'Bhuridh
- Plenty snow patches about still
Easy walk up to Creise from the cairn at the end of the ridge. We where then passed by a runner
maybe just running for the sake of it? If not he was seriously off route
- Buachaille etive mor hiding behind creise
Back to the cairn then straight on to Clach Leathad. Luckily the weather was ok at the point and the Bealach Fuar-chataidh was fairly obvious. Though we dropped of about 50mtrs to early and had to contour over a bit to miss a steep drop. It's roughing going down slippy grass and boulders.
- The Bhealaich Fuar-chataidh
Over the pass, we contoured around Creag Bhealaich and headed up on to Aonach Mor. The clag rolled in and our great luck with the weather had ran out. After a quick fuel stop we headed onwards. Straight forward and on to Stob Ghabhar.
- Quick map check on Stob Ghabhar
Visability got worse as we passed over the Aonach Eagach. All very straight forwards though.
- Aonach Eagach
Nothing to see here, move along.........
The scree path down of here isn't very nice. Very loose. But at the bottom you get a lovely view into Coirein Lochain.
- Coirein Lochain
Now we only had one to go. Quite a pull up to Stob a'Choire Obhair at the end of a long day though,
I had fallen back a little taking photos of some wee snow patches in the Lochain and managed to miss the great stag the others saw looming in the clag. James got cracking photo of it though!
Over to the summit, a few more pics, then straight down towards beinn toaig and on the path to take us back to the car park.
- The route down, finally out of the clag
- Pretty little orchids
Midges where horrendous back at the car park! First time they've been out in force all year and they where hungry.......very very hungry....
Only one thing to do..... run away!!!!
Great day, many giggles, lovely company, definitely a day to remember.
Jac
