free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
A real surprise on WH is that there is only one other report on this superb route: an excellent TR by Dogplodder.
That report had inspired me to suggest the route for our week at the Saddle Mountain Hostel. We might not manage the Andes by Frog - but the Aonachs by Gondola were on our menu.
(Don't worry if you have no idea what I'm talking about. You are probably lucky enough to be too young to remember.)
Driving along Loch Lochy towards the Nevis Ski Range, we saw an odd cloud on the flanks of Meall na Teanga.
IMG_7407 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
We were soon riding into the skies on the Gondola.
IMG_7419 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The top station gave us a great view over Fort WIlliam and Loch Eil. In the distance is Rùm. Trivia for the day; apparently the island was renamed Rhum for a while by the owner because he did not want to be known as the Laird of Rùm. Alcoholics Eponymous.
IMG_7423 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
I don't understand how to do "proper" panoramic photos. However for this view due North from the top station I have had a go at cropping the sky and ground from the picture to create a panoramic effect. I clicked on the Flickr link and then on the little + sign to magnify this view, and I think the panorama is as follows.
Gleouraich on the left, then a glimpse of the western South Cluanie Ridge above the Fia Bealach, then the prominent scarp of Spidean Mialach above Gairich. Then Aonach air Chrith with the little "horn" of A'Chioch, then Sgurr a'Bhealiach Dearg, Aonach Meadhoin, Druim Shionnach and Creag a'Mhaim and a tiny glimpse of Ciste Dubh. Then Sgurr nan Ceathreamnan looking very big, then A'Chralaig looking tall and pointy, then Mullach Frothy Coffee (sorry) just beyond it on the right, then Sgurr nan Conbhairean with the twin domes of Mam Sodhail and Carn Eige over towards the right of the view.
IMG_7436 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
We went left of the ski slopes and plodded up a grassy bank interspersed with boulders towards the crest of Aonach an Nid, left of the top ski tow. Here we popped our crampons on and set off up the icy slopes towards Aonach Mor.
IMG_7508 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The view across the Back Corrie felt like a taste of the Alps (made more so by the sight of skiers zooming down the slopes!) The weather was like an alpine summer day too: warm sun, almost windless. The distant spiky top is I think Binnean Mor, behind Stob Coire a'Chùl Choire.
IMG_7452 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Onwards and upwards... Grey Corries in the background, with the Cairngorms in the far top left.
IMG_7530 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Nice bit of cornicing with Sgurr Choinnich Mor in the background.
IMG_7543 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
We kept to the left-hand edge of the summit plateau, so we could enjoy the views down the east face. The going on the plateau was fast and easy, and we soon had a view back towards the Coire an Lochain cliffs
IMG_7554 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Aonach Beag with Binnean Mor and the Blackmount beyond.
IMG_7560 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Similar view but also including Sgurr Eilde Mor and, below it, Binnean Beag.
IMG_7583 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Then we went over to Aonach Mor's summit. From a point just west of the cairn we had great views of Carn Dearg Meadhonach and Loch Eil...
IMG_7600 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
And Carn Mor Dearg / Ben Nevis.
IMG_7605 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Snappy Time at the cairn: like yesterday, lenticular clouds had begun to appear.
IMG_7610 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
On the walk to Aonach Beag we were treated to a nine-course banquet of views. Here are the Mamores and Glen Coe hills over Coire Giubhsachan.
IMG_7632 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Prominently curving quartzite strata on the Grey Corries
IMG_7727 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Ben Nevis looking mean and craggy
IMG_7640 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The Ben above its supporting hills: the twin tops of Beinn a'Bheithir in the distance on the left
IMG_7643 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Arctic/Alpine scenery approaching the Aonachs col
IMG_7667 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Sgurr a'Mhaim centre stage
IMG_7652 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Just before the col, we noticed a distant Schiehallion looking like a smoking volcano. Appropriate as I am visiting Vesuvius / Pompeii / Herculaneum in a couple of weeks' time.
IMG_7807 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
From the col, the path up to Beag weaves cleverly among the rocks, giving a great backwards view of Aonach Mor.
IMG_7785 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
There was also a good view from here of the deep trench of Coire Giubhsachan.
IMG_7792 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Above the rocks, a slope of ice and rocky patches slants up to the summit. From here we could see the north west Highlands spread out beyond Aonach Mor.
IMG_7747 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
There was no cairn, nor do I remember one from my only previous visit around 24 years ago. My guess is that there is a cairn, but it is buried under the snow.
IMG_7721 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Big Ben and Tiny Tim
IMG_7723 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
An Gearanach...
IMG_7712 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Close up of Sgurr a'Mhaim
IMG_7711 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The sinuous northern ridge of Binnein Mor. I am guessing that the two top left hills are Beinn Achaladair and Beinn Dothaidh fronting onto Rannoch Moor.
IMG_7699 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
But the best view of all was probably the galaxy of snowy peaks and craggy ridges to the South.
IMG_7657 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Again these are not proper panoramas - just an attempt to capture something of the scene by cropping top and bottom
South
IMG_7701 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
South-west. Ben More on Mull is visible very faintly.
IMG_7702 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
At last it was time to go... descending back towards the col after an unforgettable mountain day,
IMG_7766 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
