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Finally back in Glencoe - had a few months on the injury bench since a fall on the Cobbler in July, went to A&E the following morning and got 4 weeks on my back in a hospital bed with fractured vertebrae and various other breakages and punctures. Not recommended unless you like watching Jeremy Kyle. Had a few walks in the Arrochar Alps in the last couple of months but this would be the first proper outing.
Obligatory Buachaille pic which everyone takes when they stop for a pee.
SCNL.
Path is steeper than I remember, near the top:
I've been waiting for this - SCNL in all its glory.
Boomerang Gully, turned out to be a snow swim so I took a steep, rocky exit gully on the left.
Queues on Dorsal Arete.
Climbers around Twisting Gully and Chimney Route.
Boomerang again, with the narrow exit gully.
There were prints in the snow leading to the gully but they soon petered out and it became a bit laborious.
The exit gully was steeper with rocks and patches of frozen turf to hook on, I had few frantic moments before the easier-angled ground above.
Plenty of camera breaks required on the plod to the summit.
Couple descending the ridge to Gearr Aonach. Met folk on the summit who had come up the zig-zags which were apparently fine.
Aonach Eagach behind:
Phew!
Summit photies, Buachailles:
Beinn a'Bheithir:
Bidean
Two guys had just come up Broad Gully, said it was fine but hard going ascending unconsolidated snow.
Much easier on the way down even if I didn't risk a bumslide.
Dorsal Arete
Climbers from earlier
Collected some water from the burn on the way back which found its way into a painkilling malt.
