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Since taking up this walking lark and passing Glencoe more than a few times, I had developed that strong feeling, that I must do that lovely little bump, sometime. As usual, a favourable forecast had gradually deteriorated, knocking bigger plans off the table, so now was the time for doing Sgorr na Ciche, or the Pap of Glencoe, as I'm sure most folk will call it. Alas, it is now my good mate, Big Jesper's turn to suffer back troubles, so it was to be a solo trip, or so it looked.
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- The Pap from beneath Ballachulish Bridge, with Sgorr nam Fiannaidh rising to the right.
I followed the route as described on the site and found no issues with directions, or description. It certainly is quite a steep hike at times, not helped by frequent, stony, shale sections, which are actually more difficult to negotiate on the way down.
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- Glencoe, Loch Leven and beyond.
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- Ballachulish Bridge.
Passed a few hardy souls, some with small children and admired their determination and patience, as one stop followed another. The weather stayed reasonably good, giving a few opportunities to get the camera out, as well as keeping the sweat flowing all the way to the top.
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- Sgor na h-Ulaidh in the distance. My plan A, but chickened out due to poorer weather and hairy moments last visit.
The climb onto the ‘little bump,’ is a bit more testing, requiring careful foot placement, stretching and occassional use of hands for balance/grip, but nothing dramatic and very worth it, as I made my way through snow, to the summit. Think I was one and a half hours to the top.
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- Kinlochleven.
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- Up the side of Coire an Lochain, to Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.
Great views over Glencoe, Loch Leven, Mamores and Kinlochleven. Also, met a lovely couple from the Czech Republic, enjoying the beautiful vista. Always makes one humbled to hear others praising the beauty of one’s own country, especially as my thoughts quickly turned to recent grumbles over the shocking amount of roadside litter, almost everywhere.
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- Beinn a'Bheithir, looking delicious!
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- Pass of Glencoe, Buachaille Etive Mor, rising above.
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- Bidean.
Anyway, we shared a few snaps, by which time I had resolved to make for Sgorr nam Fiannaidh, the munro at the west side of the Aonach Eagach ridge. I headed for Cnap Glas, occassionally finding a bit of a trail here and there, but gradually had to make my way up, through nice, firm snow, eventually putting on microspikes for added grip.
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- Ascending towards the ridge.
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- The Pap, towards Glencoe.
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- Fionn Ghleann. The art of nature.
Once onto the ridge, it was a short stroll out to the munro, though I must have taken ages, marvelling at the beauty of the Aonach Eagach, Glencoe hills to the south, Mamores and a barely visible, Ben Nevis.
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- Sgurr a' Mhaim and the Devil's Ridge.
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- North to a shrouded Ben Nevis. Sgurr a' Mhaim and the Devil's Ridge, off to right.
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- Out to Rannoch.
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- The Aonach Eagach ridge, to the east.
A few moments contemplating my previous journey across the ridge, then I spotted the Czech couple at the descent point from the ridge. I fired off a few photo’s of them and soon caught up, to share their company on the journey back down. It was a pleasure meeting you, Vojtech and Maya (hope, I've got that right!).
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- Travelling companions.
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- Enjoying the view?
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- Made it.
Back to the car in five and a half hours. Where did the time go? Still, enough time left to sample a wee lemon and ginger cider in the Ballachulish Hotel, though I may have to cancel my planned retirement ...... if I ever go back for a large one?
