Liathach

[tombombadilio]

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Early start (0700-0730) with aim to avoid heat of mid-afternoon. Midges not a problem.

Ascent - as imagined: very steep, very dicey in winter. Plenty of water on the way up to refill.

Perfect breeze on top to cool but not hinder. T-shirt all day. Views to Beinn Eighe stunning.

Underfoot conditions perfect, dry.

One perilous section near start of Pinnacles where mild panic set-in when on all-fours. Soon over and straightforward scrambling the rest of the way. Over-the-top still preferable to suicidal bypass track.

Mullach an Rathain summit free.

First people of the day met at Spidean a'Choire Leith summit - party of 3 from NW England (to take bypass track!) and a fell runner who departed eastwards shortly after my arrival. The rest of us deliberated upon his mental health when he was gone.

Views to Beinn Alligin and Western Isles, again, breath-taking. Conditions ripe for sitting all day on the summit dozing.

Descent: initially lost/overshot the track and went SW instead of S but reached crags and retraced. Descent is down extremely steep corrie then straightforward.

Long but satisfying walk on the flat back to car. Heat from tarmac immense but glad to be off hills now as later start would have meant need to to carry more water along barren ridge.

Even more stunning day than before.

Intimidating start

Rather steep

Stag on ascent

Beinn Eighe from east of Liathach range

Westwards

Ascent to 2nd summit

Spidean a'Choire Leith summit

Descent to The Pinnacles

Most dangerous section

Approaching The Pinnacles

Pretty straightforward actually, worst over

Easy going from now on, plateau to 3rd summit

Looking back

Westwards to final summit

Westwards with Beinn Alligin on right

Mullach an Rathain summit

Pretty steep descent down south shoulder then corrie

On valley floor