We drove back to the parking spot at Coiletir where there was already a couple of vehicles and prepared to set off up Starav, mainly to get the two Tops Allison requires. I felt really tired and washed out, like I hadn't been wound up and the boggy start to the journey further defused any energy I had left. We couldn't get across the river on stepping stones as it was too full and fast, so had to backtrack to the bridge. It was a very slow climb up the shoulder of Starav indeed. I had climbed the mountain 3 times before and on two occasions gone round the five Munros in around 11 hours - well it was to be much slower today.
DSC01392 by Al, on Flickr
DSC01394 by Al, on FlickrThe day was overcast, mist revealing then hiding the mountain tops. Still a fair bit of snow around higher up, new stuff as well. We reached the summit of Starav after three and a half hours - torture
As we started off for Meall Cruidh it began to snow, heavily too. Allison remarked that I had developed a nice cornice on my shoulder By the time we had reached the second Top of Stob an Duine Ruaidh the snow had stopped and it was pleasantly sunny - how it remained for the rest of the day. Last time round I'd come off the western ridge back towards the lochside, but this hadn't been particularly pleasurable (crags and bog) so we'd decided to press on to Glas Bheinn Mhor. Trouble was the not inconsiderable re-ascent to Starav, to then lose all the height going over to Glas Bheinn Mhor. Allison was also thinking strategically that leaving Beinn nan Aighenan wasn't a wise move as it would be relatively awkward to get it later on its own. We therefore decided to cut down into Coire nam Fuaran and avoid reascent. This proved slow as Allison takes her time going over boulderfields but eventually we crossed the Allt Hallater high up in the coire, as it ran over granite slabs, and set off up Beinn nan Aighenan. 
DSC01396 by Al, on FlickrSummit Starav
DSC01397 by Al, on FlickrMeall Cruidh
DSC01400 by Al, on FlickrTo Stob an Duine Rhuaidh
DSC01401 by Al, on FlickrStarav
DSC01404 by Al, on Flickr2nd Top
DSC01405 by Al, on FlickrBeinn Trilleachan
DSC01407 by Al, on FlickrThe way ahead to Beinn nan Aighenan
DSC01410 by Al, on FlickrBeinn nan Aighenan
DSC01411 by Al, on FlickrOh the delights of paths up Munros. 350m ascent, but easily attained. A fine day now, good views south to Cruachan. Back the way we'd come and up to the bealach between Starav and Meall nan Tri-Tighearnan. The long back of Glas Bheinn Mhor stretched ahead of us - it was 6pm by the time we reached the summit. Some tricky sections descending the ridge before Coire Odhar as accumulations of snow covered the path and deep crevasses sat gaping and waiting to swallow us. But we reached the path down into Coire Odhar and followed the Allt Mheuran. We kept to the right of the river, ground becoming ever boggier as we descended, but it was such a fine evening that this was insignificant. An almost full moon loitered in the sky as we returned to the car, past a shaggy-maned stag with new velvet antlers pushing up on his head. a good drive down an almost deserted road, not home til almost 11pm...
Looking back at our 2 Tops
DSC01412 by Al, on Flickr
DSC01414 by Al, on FlickrGlas Bheinn Mhor
DSC01415 by Al, on FlickrSummit Aighenan
DSC01417 by Al, on FlickrGlas Bheinn Mhor
DSC01419 by Al, on Flickr
DSC01420 by Al, on FlickrLooking back into Coire Odhar
DSC01425 by Al, on Flickr
DSC01428 by Al, on Flickr
DSC01430 by Al, on Flickr
