Clachlet Traverse

[jac the lassie]

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.

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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

[jamesb63]

Really enjoyed this walk in very nice experienced company ,so a big thanks to all
Some extra pics of our day out

A nice start to the walk

Excavator near summit of Meall a'Bhuridh

Dave enjoying the views

View down Glen Etive

A different view on Stob Dearg Crowberry tower seen near the top

The Monarch in the mist about 30 metres from the summit of Stob a'Choire Odhair

Jake on the summit of Stob a Choire Odhair his 50th Munro in 14 weeks