Early start from Torridon Youth Hostel, nobody else about.
Midges worst I've ever seen. Head net on, but once walking, bearable.
On ridge, conditions perfect - dry, warm, slight breeze. Views, again, stunning.
By second summit, feeling the sun directly but esp. indirectly from refection off Torridonian stone. Shades, buff, sun stick essential. Banking on refilling water at Loch Coire Mhic Fhearchair but plenty carried otherwise.
Socks and 3/4 season boots possibly too much but ankles saved by them with a few twists on the loose rock. Also, shorts? Undecided.
Reach 2nd summit, Ruadh-stac Mor, by midday. Wind gone, sun at it's highest, reflection blinding. Glad to descend into Coire Mhic Fhearchair and head towards outlet, though initially on wrong side of corrie for any shade. Several baby deer and mothers grazing, not intimidated by human presence.
Huge boulder field to negotiate before reaching path around loch, takes longer than expected.
Outlet from loch idyllic. Boots and t-shirt off, feet in shallows, soaking buff to wrap around head. Lots of rehydration. Approx. 1hr spent here. One walker passes.
Reluctantly leave for long, sweaty walk out but thankfully several streams passed on way to re-soak buff and refill bottle. Nevertheless, can feel arms burning, no long-sleeved top, focussed too much on protecting neck, face, scalp.
Glad to have started with the 1/2 hour walk-in along road, finishing at car.
Best summer day on the hills.
Start: 0715
Spidean Coire nan Clach summit: 0946
Ruadh-stac Mor summit: 1212
Finish: 1728
- Early start but midges rife
- No explanation required
- Liathach and Beinn Eighe
- Relentless
- Scree reminiscent of Cairngorms
- Eagerly approaching cairn with first view of Liathach, 1st summit to right
- Aforementioned cairn, Liathach to left
- Liathach from cairn
- Ascent to Spidean Coire nan Clach ridge (after trig point)
- Spidean Coire nan Clach summit, potential to continue along ridge to east
- Start of descent to bealach between SCnC and Coinneach Mhor, Liathach to left
- Immense, cavernous corrie - Coire Ruadh-staca
- Bealach en route to RsM
- Approach to Ruadh-stac Mor summit
- View back to Spidean Coire nan Clach
- Ruadh-stac Mor summit
- Extremely loose, steep descent, possibly safer when frozen
- Very loose rocks on descent, risky in groups
- Another massive corrie - Coire Mhic Fhearchair
- Baby deer
- Loch Coire Mhic Fhearchair
- Rehydration and feet soak
- Boots off
- Brief period of shade prior to relentless, unsheltered 1.5hr walk-out
