
Before long the south Cluanie ridge appeared above the cloud


Further up the slope we had a nice view back up Coire Tholl Bhruach towards Sgurr a'Bhealaich Dheirg

Soon we had passed points 843 and 854 and were heading up towards Sgurr an Fharail, where we could look back at the corniced ridge

... and over Loch Cluanie

Soon we were at the first top. At this point two of our party rested while we donned crampons for the snowy summit ridge.

After crossing some deep snow and scrambling up the rocks we reached the snowy plateau of Aonach Meadhoin

where we could look past Sgurr a Bhealaich Dheirg towards the Cuillin

north towards Beinn Fhada and Sgurr nan Ceathramhnan

and back towards Sgurr an Fhuarail with A'Chralaig behind

Returning to Sgurr and Fhuarail, the upper section of the icy north ridge looked deceptively easy

But soon we were in the shade on deeper snow with an icy crust

looking on towards Ciste Dhubh

All that remained was the boggy walk back towards the Cluanie Inn

in the shade, with the prospect of evening sunshine ahead

The walk back was enlivened by a dispute over whether to take the short cut over the stream to the track on the west side. This gained some of us a few minutes at the expense of some very wet boots. At the Cluanie Inn, HalfManHalfTitanium was waiting for us, and was able to save us the walk up the road to collect the car.